Chester thieves jailed after CCTV captures two-hour crime spree
Two men have been jailed for 12 months each after carrying out a series of thefts across Chester city centre in April, targeting shoppers, a charity shop and a parked vehicle within the space of two hours.
Valentin Bozu, 25, of Walker Close, Bristol, and Laurentiu Mocanu, 40, of no fixed abode, were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on 8 June 2026.
Both men pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from the person, theft from a shop, theft from a motor vehicle, and two counts of attempted theft from the person. Bozu also admitted possession of cannabis.
The offences took place on 15 April 2026, beginning at around 9.15am when the pair were spotted on Brook Street heading into the city centre.
CCTV operators tracked them to Chester Bus Interchange, where Mocanu unzipped a woman’s backpack and removed a pink carrier bag. Minutes later, both men followed another woman into Tesco on Frodsham Street and attempted to open her backpack — she turned around and they left.
The pair then entered the Cancer Research shop on Watergate Street, taking items from clothing hangers before leaving. Shortly after, Mocanu reached through the open window of a parked Mercedes Sprinter and stole a phone from inside.
Further thefts and attempted thefts followed before officers, alerted by CCTV operators, arrested the men on Brook Street. As police approached, Mocanu was seen throwing a purse behind a bin. A search of the vehicle they had been using recovered a small amount of cannabis.
PC Kilshaw said: “Bozu and Mocanu both attended Chester with the sole purpose of trying to make a financial gain for themselves. They didn’t stick to one method of offending — they targeted a vehicle, a charity shop, and were even as brazen as to steal from people’s bags while they were carrying them.”
The officer added that CCTV operators in Chester city centre had been central to securing the convictions: “Their offending was captured and they had no choice but to admit their guilt.”
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