The sophisticated operation was led by Christian Cirpaci, 25, and Andrius Stasiunas, 37, with family members of both men also involved in sending the stolen parts and tools to Romania as part of the scheme.

Police estimate the pair stole at least 20 Mercedes Sprinter vans between June 2020 and October 2020, targeting self-employed tradespeople before a raid on a 'lockup' in Newark found ‘stolen goods including Mercedes van engines and axles from an additional nine vans which had been stolen from around the UK in 2019 and 2020 and were due to be shipped abroad’.

The pair would break into the vans without needing a key and the ‘technical expert’ member of the gang - Stasiunas, would disable the GPS security tracking systems.

The scene uncovered at the lockup in Newark. Image Credit: Nottinghamshire Police

As reported by The Nottingham Post, their operation was found out when police spotted vehicles being driven in convoy using an Audi A4 and a BMW, both connected to Stasiunas and Christian Cirpaci, who were the brains behind breaking into the vehicles and disabling the trackers.

Despite being arrested in October last year and being released on bail under strict curfew conditions, evidence showed that just 3 weeks later the callous individuals continued to steal vans and tools - with police intercepting 2 lorries full of stolen Mercedes parts en route to Romania.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, all the family members involved were given sentences as follows:

• Ringleader Christian Cirpaci -  jailed for 3 years and 9 months following a guilty plea of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.
• Andrius Stasiunas - jailed for 4 years after a guilty plea of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.
• Alexandru Covaci, 25 - jailed for 16 months after a guilty plea to a charge of conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or removal of criminal property
• Leonardo Cirpaci, 19 - jailed for 16 months after he plead guilty to a charge of conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or removal of criminal property
• Daniel Cirpaci, 42 - given a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months + 180 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to to a charge of conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or removal of criminal property
• Stefano Cirpaci, 19 - given an 18-month community order + 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or removal of criminal property as reported by The Nottingham Post.

Do you think these sentences are too light?

(H/T Nottingham Post)

Feature Image Credit: Nottinghamshire Police