Unlikely to Serve Prison Sentences, Heating Oil Theft Gang Members Remain on the Run
Members of a gang responsible for a string of heating oil thefts have managed to evade justice for a decade, with little hope of serving prison sentences. Mihai Desaga and Ionut Segarceanu, part of a Romanian criminal group, conducted multiple thefts of heating oil from rural homes in Carmarthenshire back in March 2014. While four individuals involved in the crimes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and were sentenced, Desaga and Segarceanu absconded, fleeing the country to Romania. Despite arrest warrants issued for the duo in 2015, they have successfully avoided capture for ten years.
The incident unfolded on March 8, 2014, when a policeman encountered four men in a VW Passat on the A4067 in Carmarthenshire and detected a strong odour of heating oil. A subsequent search revealed 60 large containers filled with oil valued at approximately £8,000 in a nearby van. Investigations linked the men to a series of thefts through CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and vehicle movements recorded by ANPR cameras. The gang specifically targeted properties reliant on oil for heating, causing significant inconvenience to the victims.
In court in 2015, Desaga and Segarceanu, alongside two other accomplices, admitted to conspiring to steal heating oil. While their partners faced justice with prison sentences, the duo went into hiding, prompting the issuance of bench warrants for their arrest. More recently, Judge Paul Thomas KC decided to sentence Desaga, aged 36, and Segarceanu, aged 32, in absentia. Despite receiving reduced sentences of two years and 21 months, respectively, due to their guilty pleas, the likelihood of them serving time remains slim as they are presumed to be in Romania.
Judge Thomas withdrew the bench warrants but stipulated that if Desaga and Segarceanu return to the UK, they will face arrest. The court recognised the calculated nature of the thefts, which targeted isolated properties, causing distress to the owners. The successful prosecution of the other gang members in 2015 highlighted the seriousness of the crimes committed. However, the ongoing evasion of Desaga and Segarceanu serves as a reminder of the challenges in cross-border criminal cases.
This case underscores the complexities of international fugitive manhunts and the limitations of extradition agreements. The resilience of the individuals involved showcases the lengths some criminals will go to avoid accountability. Despite the sentences handed down, the pursuit of justice for all victims remains incomplete as key perpetrators remain at large. The tenacity of law enforcement agencies is evident in their continued efforts to track down and apprehend Desaga and Segarceanu, ensuring that justice is ultimately served.