Two Romanian nationals, Danut Lazar and Cornel Alexandrescu, have been sentenced for a burglary that targeted a jewelry store by breaking through an adjacent tattoo parlor. The pair, along with an unidentified accomplice, stole nearly £45,000 worth of jewels and stock from V&N Jewellers in Blyth, Northumberland, in June 2026.
The Heist
The thieves gained access to the Lev-Ink tattoo shop by climbing over a fence and entering the back yard. Once inside the tattoo parlor, they created a hole in the wall connecting to V&N Jewellers. CCTV footage captured the moment a display cabinet was moved to reveal the opening, through which the burglars emerged.
Dressed in dark clothing and equipped with crowbars and torches, the men proceeded to smash open display cabinets within the jewelry store, stuffing their loot into carrier bags. The court heard that the burglars had conducted reconnaissance trips in the days leading up to the heist and had stayed in Durham. The operation was described by Judge Robert Adams as a "well organised attack on the two premises."
Arrest and Sentencing
Lazar, 50, and Alexandrescu, 48, fled the UK via ferry shortly after the burglary. They were arrested a month later upon returning to Britain on a flight to Luton. Both men pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary.
Lazar was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, while Alexandrescu received a two-year sentence. They are expected to serve less than half of their sentences before being deported. The judge emphasized that deportation should be automatic given the length of the sentences. The owners of the targeted businesses expressed being shaken by the events.