A Romanian couple stole a Royal Offshore Oak 18 carat rose gold watch worth £67,400. Days later, they were arrested at Dover Harbor, attempting to return to Romania. Both confessed to robbery and Para was imprisoned for 18 months, while Para-Bloj, his partner, was sentenced to 8 months in jail.
This Couple Jailed For 26 Months Who Trained Their Six-Year-old Son To Help Them Steal £67,000 Watch From Harrods
By
Haider Ali in
News
On 18th December 2020
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Para replaced the £67,400 timepiece for a copy tucked in his son's hood.
As the salesman turned her attention to the moment, Southwark Crown Court heard Para replaced the £67,400 timepiece for a copy tucked in his son's hood.
Days later, the Romanians were intercepted by police in their black Audi at Dover Harbor, trying to get home.
Para and Para-Bloj, Hendon, have both admitted stealing from a store. Today, Para was jailed for 18 months, while his wife was sentenced to eight months in detention.
(Picture: Central News)
The six-year-old child had been 'groomed' to help them commit the robbery.
Judge Michael Grieve, QC, told the couple that their young child had been 'groomed' to help them commit the robbery.
He said: "You took part in what has aptly been described as a sophisticated, well-planned, and audacious plan to steal an expensive watch using your six-year-old child as a key part in its execution."
Prosecutor Dominic Hockley said the couple was at Harrods five days before the theft on a 'reconnaissance mission', trying and photographing various timepieces.
(Picture: Central News)
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The couple said they didn't like the other watches, they wanted the Royal Oak offshore.
He continued: "When they found the watch they were interested in, they took photographs, no doubt intending to obtain a realistic replica. We say this has shown planning and sophistication."
The prosecutor explained: "One of the watches was an 18-carat rose gold Royal Oak offshore self-winding chronograph worth £67,400. The couple said they didn't like the other watches, they wanted the Royal Oak offshore.
"When the sales assistant took the other watches and placed them back in the stacks, as she did that, Mr Para took off the genuine watch he had been trying on and swapped it with a fake that was concealed in his child's coat hood.
(Picture: Central News)
The salesperson was 'unaware' of the swap, but a colleague found the watch's dial was changed
"He immediately placed the fake watch on the display tray. Mrs Para-Bloj moved the watches on the display around to give the impression they were still looking at watches."
When asked for their contact information, the robbers then said they wanted more time to think about that and got 'edgy'.
The salesperson was 'unaware' of the swap, but a colleague found the watch's dial was changed the next day and its serial number was gone.
(Picture: Central News)
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The family was detained at Dover Port with Para wearing a watch on his left hand
The officials were informed and the family was detained at Dover Port with Para wearing a watch on his left hand, cleared of their possessions by their London address.
Ioana Nedelcu, arguing, told the court that Para-Bloj, who was expecting when she was convicted, had suffered greatly after having miscarried while in custody.
Ms Nedelcu went on: "I understand she had a significant amount of pain for several days and I understand she was only treated by prison staff with Paracetamol. She does have a six-year-old child with this defendant.
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He regrets the involvement of his wife and child and holds himself responsible for his wife is in custody and her loss of pregnancy
"At the moment he has returned to Romania and is under the care of her 18-year-old daughter. She has her final year in school and is due to take her exams for university, she is very busy and unprepared to take care of a child."
Ms Nedelcu went on to outline the motive behind the crime. "When I asked him the reason he had for the offence he explained his grandfather, who recently passed away, needed an operation and there wasn't any money to pay for that operation privately in Romania.
"He regrets the involvement of his wife and child and holds himself responsible for his wife being in custody and her loss of pregnancy."