These are the mugshots of a highly skilled gang caught stealing £50,000 worth of underground BT cables in Birmingham, causing major disruptions to communication services for thousands of residents.
On January 20, firearm officers and a dog handler patrolling near Great Charles Queensway were alerted to suspicious activity beneath a manhole cover. Dramatic footage released by West Midlands Police shows officers warning the Romanian gang to “come out” before dispatching the police dog.
Sophisticated alarms designed to detect tampering with the valuable communications cables were triggered, prompting Openreach to immediately call 999. Officers quickly arrived on the scene.
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Thousands of customers in the area experienced phone and internet outages due to the theft. Replacing the stolen cables alone cost approximately £50,000, with additional overnight repair expenses driving costs even higher. Alarmingly, the theft risked disabling safety systems critical in emergencies, such as lifts and fire alarms.
Marian Agarlita, 37, of Isle of Wight, along with Sorin Condrache, 45, and Aldafin Poenaru, 49, both from Smethwick, were arrested at the scene. They later pleaded guilty to theft and were each sentenced to three years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on May 1.
PC Charlotte Gurrey of West Midlands Police commented, “This gang was clearly well-organised and skilled, with significant planning behind their attempt to steal communication cables. Agarlita initially refused to exit the manhole, forcing officers to consider closing roads and digging up the street to ensure safety from damaged cables or gas leaks. Their reckless actions showed complete disregard for the impact on city communications. Thanks to the quick response from nearby officers and Openreach, who called 999 after the alarm was activated, the criminals were swiftly apprehended and now serve justice.”
Robin Edwards from the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership (NICRP) added, “Metal theft is a serious issue harming communities and businesses. Illegal scrap metal dealers facilitate crimes by acting as outlets for stolen material, enabling criminals to convert stolen goods into cash that funds further crime.”
An Openreach spokesperson stated, “Cable theft causes real harm beyond frustration. It leaves vulnerable individuals without crucial support as phone and broadband services go offline. Repairs are costly and slow, requiring engineers to divert from essential work and often taking weeks to resolve. We are proud to have collaborated closely with West Midlands Police and local partners to deliver this positive outcome.”