Laurentiu-Valentin Trocan admitted to five thefts
Laurentiu-Valentin Trocan, aged 38, of Parsloes Avenue, stole mobile phones, purses and cash from unsuspecting travelers.
He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, 5 July.
“Dipping their hands into passengers’ bags, lifting items and slyly walking from the scene, that’s how Tube pickpockets earn their illegitimate and shameful living,” a British Transport Police spokesperson said.
“Trocan’s gluttonous actions were first reported to British Transport Police on 21 January this year, after a victim had a purse stolen at Piccadilly Circus station.”
Later that same day, he also took a phone from a passenger at Holborn station.
A third victim had their phone and cash taken from them while on a train between Leicester Square station and Russel Square, in February.
Plain clothes officers initially arrested on Wednesday, 27 February. But, Trocan was released on bail while they prepared a case against him.
During this time, he committed two more offences in Tottenham Court Road.
Officers arrested him for the additional thefts on Thursday, 11 April.
Trocan admitted to five counts of theft after attempting to claim the CCTV footage didn’t match him. He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
Detective Constable, Jennifer Brown, said: “Trocan is a blight for London Underground passengers, he is well known by police for this type of behaviour and I completely welcome this custodial sentence.”
“Pickpockets should see this prison sentence as a warning. Trocan was identified thanks to our excellent plain clothed officers who routinely patrol the London Underground, they’re experts in identifying and cuffing offenders.”
Tags: Dagenham
