Organised crime gang jailed after leaving man beaten and cable tied

An organised crime gang convicted of a series of commercial burglaries that left one victim beaten and cable tied have been jailed for a combined total of 50 years.

All eight defendants appeared at Croydon Crown Court today.

During the trial, the court heard how the gang had conspired to burgle a series of commercial premises in the Croydon area between September 5, 2018 and March 13, 2022. These burglaries were usually committed over a weekend.

The venues were betting shops, cash and carry warehouses, off licences – anywhere they thought that cash might be left on the premises overnight.

Tools and ladders were used to gain access to the businesses. Once inside, the gang would either break into the safe or take it away with them. They destroyed security systems and equipment and cut power supplies before fleeing with the cash.

The crimes were committed when the premises were closed, except for one warehouse robbery where the gang waited until a member of staff was closing up and attacked him, demanding keys which the man did not have. 

One of the defendants attempted to take a ring from the victim’s finger, while others searched him. Unable to find the keys they robbed the man and left him cable tied and beaten. His injuries were not life-threatening.

In March 2022, the group robbed a betting shop in Church Street, Croydon, not knowing that they were under surveillance by detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad. 

They were all arrested.

Badita, who officers believe to have been the ringleader, was involved in every offence. He had also sent about £47,000 in what is believed to be stolen money back to his home country of Romania.

Detective Sergeant Paul Bartlett, of the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “This gang were organised and ruthless in their goal of parting business owners from their cash.

“But the effects of their crimes ran far deeper than a loss of money for the victims – the damage they caused to buildings and security systems when they broke in was an added expense, not to mention the psychological effects suffered by victims of crime that can be traumatic and long lasting.

“I have no doubt that if we hadn’t caught them, they would still be victimising hardworking, legitimate businesses today.”

Erfan Badita, 28, of Whitehorse Lane, Croydon, Marian Durla, 27 of Brigstock Road, Croydon, Sarok Sarhad, 23, of Kelling Gardens, Croydon, Albert Meliteanu, 20, of no fixed address, Alexandru Nastase, 24, of Limes Grove, Croydon, Claudiu Durla, 23, of Brigstock Road, Croydon, Cristian Alexandru Durla, 20, of Brigstock Road, Croydon and Nicolai Lucian Zaharia, 34, of Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Badita, was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years imprisonment. He was also found guilty of robbery, five counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and transferring stolen money to Romania.

Pictured top: Top row, from left, Marian Durla, Sarhad, Zaharia, Claudiu Durla, bottom row, from left, Badita, Nastase, Cristi Durla and Meliteanu (Picture: Met)