Woman jailed following distraction burglary in Handsworth

Dear Resident,

A woman has been jailed after stealing thousands of pounds in cash and jewellery during a distraction burglary.

On 8 July last year, Catalina Stanciu worked with three other women, where they knocked the door of an address on Holly Road, Handsworth, pretending to enquire about buying flowers.

While the owner of the property was distracted, one of the women broke into the property and stole various amounts of gold jewellery worth over £10,000, and £14,000 in cash, before escaping.

Our Neighbourhood Crime Team in Birmingham carried out an extensive investigation and after an appeal was issued with images of suspects, we identified Stanciu.

The 37-year-old was arrested in October last year, and after pleading guilty to burglary in February, she was jailed last Friday (24 April).

Stanciu was jailed for three years and one month.

Enquiries are continuing to identify others involved with Stanciu.

Distraction burglars will pretend to be someone they are not, so it’s important you are aware of the common methods they will use to get you to let them into your property.

Read here about distraction burglaries: https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/keep-burglars-out-property/