Gang jailed for stealing £700k from cash machines

Alexandru Militaru (top left), Christian Cimpoesu (top middle), Constantin Boghiu (top right), Gabriel Rosu (bottom left), Marius Chifan (bottom middle) and Razvan Verde (bottom right) were all part of the gang

Six members of a criminal network that stole £700,000 from cash machines across the country have been jailed.

Between February and December 2024 the gang, which was based in Romania but operated out of Luton, used sophisticated devices to bypass security systems at cashpoints, investigators said.

Late night raids at 51 locations across the UK were carried out to fraudulently withdraw cash in 3,300 separate transactions.

Det Insp Dan Barker, from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), said there was "no doubt that this group thought they were above the law both here in the UK and in Romania".

Det Insp Dan Barker from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit said the gang had a blatant disregard for law enforcement as the writing on the bottom of their swimming pool in Romania shows

After reports were received about fraudulent activity, an investigation was launched by ERSOU which led to detectives uncovering and dismantling the network.

An initial five arrests were made in December 2024, with suspects arrested at Luton Airport as they tried to leave the country - and others detained during raids in Luton and Norfolk.

Chipboards programmed to bypass cashpoint security measures were seized, along with a cash machine which had been purchased from China.

There were indications that new technology was being developed for future offending, ERSOU said.

In July, 18 addresses across the Bacau region in Romania were raided with the help of the police in the country and international agencies Europol and Eurojust.

Two further arrests were made, with officers seizing a Lamborghini and a Porsche and raiding a stronghold-style property, where the gang's "FTP" moniker had been carved into a front gate and printed onto the floor of an outdoor swimming pool.

Those arrested were extradited to the UK.

The gang used lookouts to keep watch while deploying digital devices to fraudulently withdraw cash

Constantin Boghiu, 25, of Kimpton Road, Luton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money and was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment.

Alex Militaru, 25, of High Street Watton, Thetford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money and was sentenced to two years and five months' imprisonment.

Marius Chifan 33, of St Catherines Avenue Luton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money and was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment.

Gabriel Rosu, 33, of Flowers way Luton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money and was sentenced three and a half years' imprisonment.

Razvan Verde, 31, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to launder money, possession of articles for use in fraud and was sentenced to four years and four months' imprisonment.

Cristian Cimpoesu, 28, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money and was sentenced to a year and a half in prison.

All six men were jailed at Luton Crown Court, but in total nine men were convicted in relation to the fraud.

Three other members of the group are due to be sentenced at hearings in December and January, with all facing the prospect of deportation after their sentences.

Det Insp Barker added: "This has been a long running operation involving teams from across Europe, and it's positive that these offenders will now be spending spells behind bars."