Men jailed for stealing £80,000 worth of stock from electrical goods store in Sussex - Two further suspects remain outstanding

Sussex Police revealed that up to £80,000 worth of stock, including iPhones, laptops and other electrical goods, were stolen during the break-in at the store in Hove, East Sussex.

All items were recovered when two of the four suspects were arrested in a vehicle on the M23 near Gatwick, police said.

A spokesperson said: "They were identified as Marian Ghita, 44, a refuse worker, of Ivinghoe Road, Dagenham, London, and Cristian Rusu, 29, a car valeter, of Auckland Road, Redbridge, London.

"They were among four masked men who broke into the store in Old Shoreham Road around 5.27am on Tuesday, March 17."

After being remanded in custody and charged with burglary, the pair appeared before Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday, May 13.

Police said Ghita was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a £181 victim surcharge, whilst Rusu was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a £149 victim surcharge

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Brad Lozynski, said: “We were alerted to this break-in after an intruder alarm activated at the store.

"Our response officers attended and discovered the offenders had already fled the scene, however we weren’t far behind – intelligence led us to a green Audi which we stopped on the M23.

"The two occupants were both arrested and the stolen stock was recovered from the vehicle.

“Thanks to our officers’ swift actions and our subsequent investigation, two criminals have been brought to justice and a retailer has been prevented from a large financial loss.”

Two further suspects remain outstanding, and anyone with any information about the incident is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 125 of 17/03.

You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.

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