A trusted employee of Amazon has been found guilty of stealing a substantial amount of expensive phones and smartwatches from the warehouse where he was employed. Constantin Acatrinei, a 30-year-old father, took more than £28,000 worth of Samsung Galaxy phones and smartwatches without authorisation. Despite his initial denial of the crime, the discrepancies in stock levels raised suspicion at the retail giant.
The thefts came to light when Amazon discovered missing Samsung Galaxy phones, and CCTV footage revealed Acatrinei removing handsets and smartwatches from the shelves on multiple occasions. Police were called in, and Acatrinei was caught red-handed with additional stolen mobiles in his possession.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, Acatrinei offered various explanations for his actions, including moving the devices to frame a colleague or to create space on the shelves. However, the court found him guilty of two counts of theft by an employee and one count of attempted theft. Acatrinei had previous convictions for dishonesty and assault in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Acatrinei was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. The judge noted the breach of trust Acatrinei had committed and the sophistication of the thefts. Acatrinei was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and perform 160 hours of unpaid work in the community. A financial investigation under Proceeds of Crime Act powers will be conducted to recover some of the stolen goods.
Acatrinei, who supports his daughter in Romania financially, expressed remorse and aspirations to further his education. The judge highlighted that the thefts took place during the Covid pandemic when security measures were lax. Although the judge acknowledged Acatrinei’s compliance with the law since 2021, he stated that Acatrinei had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions.
The Amazon employee’s case serves as a reminder of the consequences of breaching the trust of an employer. The court’s decision to suspend the prison sentence indicates a second chance granted to Acatrinei, provided he complies with the terms of his sentence. The financial investigation aims to recover the stolen property and hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions.