Three admit jewellers tunnel plot at Kingston Crown Court

Three men have admitted to a conspiracy to commit burglary after attempting to tunnel into a jewellers in Tooting. Laurentiu-Daniel Nitisoara, 38, and Ioan Asafeti, 39, were arrested at the scene on Mitcham Road on July 17. A third man, Sergiu Plastin, 42, was arrested later that day at Stansted Airport as he attempted to leave the country.

The Tooting Attempt

Nitisoara and Asafeti broke into a neighbouring massage parlour before attempting to drill through a wall into the adjacent jewellery shop. Emergency response officers arrived shortly after 3am, minutes after reports of the attempted burglary. Nitisoara was apprehended in a nearby alleyway, and Asafeti was found hiding on a rooftop. Officers discovered tools and equipment in the massage parlour, including bags of implements used for digging.

Wider Gang Activity

An investigation led by the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad linked the three men to a series of burglaries across London between May and July. The gang primarily targeted jewellers, using their tunnelling method to bypass security systems. The total value of goods stolen in these incidents exceeds £700,000. Detectives gathered CCTV footage showing members of the group acquiring necessary tools and equipment. Further inquiries through Interpol suggested possible links to similar offences in Europe.

Guilty Pleas and Sentencing

On Friday, the men entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and cause criminal damage at Kingston Crown Court. Sentencing for Nitisoara, Asafeti, and Plastin is scheduled for Friday, October 23. Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell of the Met's Flying Squad stated that the arrests not only stopped the immediate burglary but were part of a wider investigation that uncovered an organised crime group responsible for multiple jewellery shop break-ins.