Two men from Romania have been sentenced to prison for a series of distressing burglaries committed within a day of arriving in the United Kingdom.
A Crime Spree Begins
Ion Zaharia, 44, and Samir Barbulesteanu, 23, travelled by car from France in October last year. Shockingly, Liverpool Crown Court heard they began targeting homes within 24 hours of their arrival. The pair, along with a third unidentified accomplice, first struck at a property in Warrington, Cheshire, on 29 October.
The homeowners were away on holiday and returned to find their back door smashed and their house ransacked. Wardrobe doors were ripped off, iPads were cracked and trampled, and children's bedrooms were turned upside down. Among the items stolen were sentimental dog tags gifted by the homeowner's late brother and approximately £1,540 in cash, including £40 taken from a child's money box.
A Trail of Damage and Fear
The burglary attempts continued in Warrington. At another property, a resident found a discarded screwdriver by her back gate. CCTV later showed three men damaging the gate and a security light. A third homeowner came back from work to find a bedroom window shattered and glass strewn across her daughter's bed.
In a particularly unsettling incident, an elderly woman living alone woke to discover her conservatory doors had been smashed overnight while she slept. Although nothing was taken, she was left feeling profoundly unsafe in her own home.
The spree extended to Scarborough, where on 10 November, a solicitor found an unoccupied property had been broken into. A safe containing jewellery and important documents had been stolen from a wardrobe.
Arrest and Sentencing
Zaharia and Barbulesteanu, both of Rookery Road in Birmingham, were subsequently arrested at Birmingham Airport. Zaharia was found in possession of jewellery, while Barbulesteanu had cash and jewellery.
During sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall condemned their actions, stating they had "immediately" begun burgling homes upon arrival. He highlighted the profound impact on victims, saying: "You ransacked that family's home, including the children's bedrooms... What you did caused distress and fear for the whole family."
The court was told Zaharia has a history of convictions in France, Austria, and Romania for offences including aggravated theft and fraud. Barbulesteanu had no prior convictions. Their defence lawyers cited difficulties earning a living in Romania and financial pressures from their families.
Judge Woodhall sentenced Zaharia to four years and three months in prison. Barbulesteanu received a sentence of three and a half years. The judge noted they could face deportation, while their accomplice remains at large.
