Sneaky household’s petrol station heist noticed them bag £349 in vapes and hotdogs
A family planned a sneaky getaway after raiding a petrol station and taking off with a huge haul including several vapes, crisps and even a few hotdogs stashed away
A family raided a Teesside petrol station shop pocketing vapes, hotdogs, crisps and drinks.
Daniel Dumitru, Florica Cristea, Monica Cristea and Radu Cristea stole goods worth £349 from Wolviston services – but say the theft wasn’t pre-planned. Dumitru, 34, was the driver of the getaway vehicle that was stopped by police on the A19, a “short distance” away from the Coal Lane services. However, the grey Seat Leon driver had a child passenger in the rear of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt.
The four defendants appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to theft on February 1.
Dumitru, of East Rochester Way, Sidcup, also admitted failing to use a car seat while driving a motor vehicle on a road with child passenger aged three to 13 years. Anne Mitchell, prosecuting, stated that it was around 2pm when the group entered the BP service station in Wolviston, Billingham.
The court heard they entered as customers and spent a number of minutes on the shop floor. However, they began “putting items in plastic bags”. The group then left the store in a vehicle that was stopped by police “a short distance away” on the A19 southbound.
Ms Mitchell added a child was found in the back of the 07-plate Seat Leon “not wearing a seatbelt”. Daniel Burke, mitigating for Florica Cristea, 32, and Dumitru described his clients as having “limited records” and are on Universal Credit.
He told the Middlesbrough court that it wasn’t the “most sophisticated offence” and the goods were recovered. Andrew Foster, mitigating for Monica Cristea, 38, and Radu Cristea, 22, stated his clients had “no intention of taking items” from the filling station shop and only went in for petrol and cigarettes.
The defence solicitor added it had been a number of years since Monica Cristea “bothered the courts” and “apologises for her actions”. “It wasn’t planned,” Mr Foster added. “The intention developed in the shop.”
He asked the magistrates’ bench to treat Monica Cristea “as someone on benefits” due to limited details on her financial situation, only that her husband “works on and off as a delivery driver”.
Speaking about Radu Cristea, Mr Foster added he had been going between London and the North-east due to “family problems” and he is “hopeful” to start a university course. The court heard Radu Cristea is living with his mother and father in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.
A report was prepared for Radu Cristea due to a breach of a community order that asked for the magistrates’ bench to extend the order until August 2026. He has 200 hours of unpaid work left to complete.
The court heard Radu Cristea has a fines account of more than £1,600 which is not being paid. Mr Foster stated Radu Cristea had a job at Amazon but his contract was not renewed due to his record. He added his client is “supported by family” and has no income.
The chair of the magistrates’ bench handed Dumitru a court bill of £421, consisting of £200 fine for the theft, £40 fine for seatbelt offence, £85 court costs and £96 surcharge. The court heard his bill will be added to his fines account.
Florica Cristea, of Rosthwaite, Acklam, Middlesbrough, was given a bill of £365, made up of a £300 fine, court costs and surcharge, which will be deducted from her benefits. Monica Cristea, of Oliver Street, was also given a £365 bill which she agreed to pay at a rate of £50 per month.
Radu Cristea was given the same court bill which will be added to his fines account and will be paid at a rate of £20 per month. He has also had his unpaid work hours increased to 230.
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