Trio admit Glasgow cash machine robberies
The men targeted people using machines across the west of Scotland
Three men sparked a UK wide manhunt after a spate of robberies at ATM machines in Glasgow, Port Glasgow, Newton Mearns, Stevenson and Biggar.
Felix Stoica, 19, Forin Geblescu, 18, and Piper Dumitri 18, targeted machines all over the country and stole cash from people including an 84-year-old pensioner.
In total they pocketed £1,100 but were eventually caught when police south of the border recognised them from a robbey in Wirral, Merseyside.
They are all serving time in a young offenders’ institute as a result of committing a similar crime.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court the teenagers all admitted a charge of assault and robbery at an HSBC bank on Argyle Street Glasgow by pushing Lorraine Woodrow and stealing £200 on April 1.
Stoica pled guilty to a further four charges of theft, Geblescu and Dumitri to another three charges of stealing cash on April 21 and 22 at various Scottish bank machines.
Procurator fiscal depute John Bedford told the court that around 3pm Mrs Woodrow, 59, started to use the ATM machine when she spotted Geblescu close to her right side.
He pushed her away and said “machine no working”.
She tried to push to get back to the machine when Stoica came at her other side to stop her.
Mrs Woodrow was overheard by a shopper across the road watching, crying and saying “give me my money” but the two accused ran off.
The bank confirmed £200 was taken from her account and CCTV showed Dumitri was nearby as the “lookout”.
On April 21 at an ATM on Princes Street, Port Glasgow, 84-year-old Robina Connachan tried to use the ATM when Dumitri told her “I’m here to fix this”.
He touched the machine as though fixing it while holding what she thought was a tablet.
When the woman left the machine she dropped two store cards which Dumitri picked up and gave back to her.
When Mrs Connachan reported the broken machine to Lloyds TSB, they confirmed it was working and £200 had been taken from her account.
Stoica and Dumitri also targeted a bank on Kilwinning Road, Stevenson that day.
Bruce James, 51, was approached by the men when he used the cash point outside a Morrisons supermarket.
Mr Bedford told the court: “Dumitri placed a wallet over the screen of the ATM and began talking to Mr Bruce in a foreign language.
“Stoica then approached Mr Bruce and placed what appeared to be a map of the cash dispenser.
“Stoica then pressed £200 and removed Mr Bruce’s money and they made off.”
The incident was seen by another shopper in her car and the police were contacted.
The trio targeted a machine in Newton Mearns the following day when pensioner Susan McDonald, 77, was using it.
After entering her pin but before she could select the cash she wanted Stoica and Geblescu approached and one said “that’s my money”.
Stoica selected the maximum amount of cash and the pair made off with £300.
All three were caught on CCTV half an hour before the incident in an Audi car. Dumitri was again the “lookout”.
Their final victim was stung on High Street, Biggar at a Bank of Scotland machine by Stoica and Geblescu.
The 28-year-old Norwegian female had £200 stolen as she tried to take money out.
She saw Stoica who told her “it’s not working” and tried to pull her out of the way from the cash dispenser.
Geblescu was then spotted touching numbers on the keypad.
The court heard the woman said “What are you doing? This is stealing” but the pair fled.
Police Scotland circulated a UK wide bulletin to try and identify the teenagers - leading to police in Manchester and Wirral recognising them.
In August this year Stoica was given two years, Geblescu 16 months and Dumitri eight months behind bars for a similar offence in Merseyside.
They targeted a 77-year-old at a cash point who banged Stoica’s head against the wall in a bid to stop him although they got £200.
After being sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court, they were brought to Glasgow in September to face charges.
Sheriff Daniel Scullion continued the case until next month for sentence.