Bogdan Gasparov jailed for ATM theft after Dagenham loft find

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) executed a search warrant at a property in Dagenham, East London, on 8 October 2026. Officers entered the loft, heard the suspect call, and discovered Bogdan Gasparov half‑naked in a crawl space. The find led to his immediate arrest.

Court sentencing

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Gasparov plead guilty to two counts of theft from an ATM and to knowingly breaching a deportation order, as reported by MyLondon. The judge imposed a custodial term of three years and six months on 9 November 2026. The sentencing remarks noted the scale of the fraud and the breach of immigration law.

The court also ordered that, upon completion of his prison term, Gasparov will appear before an immigration tribunal for a further deportation hearing. No further financial penalty was disclosed.

How the ATM fraud was carried out

Investigators said Gasparov fitted homemade cash‑trapping devices onto ATMs, allowing genuine customers to withdraw cash that was then captured inside the device. He returned later to retrieve the trapped money and move on to another machine. The Proactive Economic Crime Team (PECT) linked the devices to him through CCTV footage and a search of his vehicle, which yielded clothing, tools and several of the traps.

Impact on local residents

The fraud affected ATM users in multiple regions, including Harlow, Great Yarmouth, Peterborough, Nottingham, Oxford, Somerset, Bristol, Derby, Gloucester, Lincoln, the West Midlands, parts of Scotland and Wales. Victims reported missing cash and the inconvenience of having to replace compromised cards.

Barking and Dagenham Council has not been named as a direct victim, but the case underscores the need for heightened security on cash machines in the borough. The council’s crime prevention team advises residents to report any suspicious ATM behaviour to the police.

What happens next

Gasparov will serve his sentence at a Category B prison. After release, the Home Office is expected to schedule a deportation hearing, which could result in his removal from the UK. Police continue to monitor similar cash‑trapping methods and have issued alerts to ATM operators nationwide.