In a daring daylight robbery attempt, three individuals were apprehended while trying to steal £20,000 worth of mobile phones from a Tesco supermarket located on Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill. The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 17.
The trio brazenly began to detach the devices from their displays, drawing the attention of not only staff and customers but also three off-duty police officers who happened to be present at the scene. The officers sprang into action and detained the suspects and recovered the stolen phones, although several people were assaulted during the process.
The defendants, who were promptly arrested and charged with attempted robbery, all entered guilty pleas.Among the culprits was 24-year-old Valentin Bocan, a man of no fixed address. Bocan was held in custody and later appeared before Lewes Crown Court on September 8.
He received a sentence of 23 months’ imprisonment.Mario Ilie, an 18-year-old resident of Saint Awdrys Road, Barking, was handed a sentence of 22 months, suspended for 24 months, at an earlier hearing. Additionally, a 16-year-old boy from Ilford, whose identity has been withheld due to legal reasons, was referred to a youth offender panel.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Stuart MacPherson said: “This was a brazen act of attempted robbery, committed in a busy supermarket in broad daylight.
“The defendants seemingly had no concern for the consequences of their actions, and it is only thanks to the quick-thinking staff, customers and off-duty officers that they were detained and a significant loss was prevented.”
