A pair of Ontario residents have been sentenced to six months in prison in connection with what police describe as a "complex shoplifting scheme" that spanned six months and a number of Lower Mainland cities, including Surrey.
According to a news release issued Tuesday (July 2), 51-year-old Nicoleta Rusu and 39-year-old Emil Marian Stan both pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft and one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000 during appearances last month (June 26 and June 17, respectively) in Surrey Provincial Court.
Stan was convicted of seven counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000 and one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000, while Rusu was convicted of two counts of theft under $5,000, two counts of theft over $5,000 and one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Both are to be deported after serving their prison terms, the release notes.
North Community Response Unit Staff Sgt. Nigel Pronger described the outcome as "a warning to those who wish to profit through crime."
Stan and Rusu have been held to account for their criminal actions, with the loss of their freedom and the opportunity to reside in Canada," Pronger said in the release.
Surrey RCMP officials said they could not speak to where Stan and Rusu would be deported.
Charges against the pair were announced in March, alleging they "committed high-value thefts from major retail outlets, utilizing sophisticated techniques to conceal the items and remove them from the stores without detection."
"Some of these methods involved the use of devices to block security alarm systems. The items stolen included high-end fragrances and athletic clothing, with an approximate total value of $53,000," a news release issued at the time states.
The detachment's Community Response Unit linked thefts occurring in Surrey to similar thefts in Abbotsford and 91原创. Rusu and Stan were arrested in 91原创 on Feb. 20.
Pronger said at that time that the value of the items stolen "is a clear reflection of how our businesses are experiencing significant losses at the hands of professional thieves."
The CRU held meetings with stakeholders in October 2023 as well as March 2024, to collaborate "on building solutions to reduce retail theft and safeguard public safety in retail spaces for shoppers and staff in Surrey."
In the latest release, Pronger notes work is ongoing with retail partners and police agencies across B.C. and Canada to prevent retail theft and "ensure our retail spaces are safe places for both staff and customers."