Two cousins have been sentenced after robbing £20,000 worth of phones from a Vodafone store in Marlborough last December.

Becam Radu, 21, of Orchard Road, Enfield, and Emanuel Radu, 19, of Nash Road, Edmonton, appeared at Swindon Crown Court today, where they received custodial sentences for their roles in the violent robbery.

The Robbery and Arrest

On December 12, 2024, the pair stormed into Vodafone on High Street, wearing balaclavas and threatening staff with violence before making off with the shop’s entire stock of mobile phones. However, unknown to them, some of the stolen devices were dummy phones equipped with tracking devices, allowing police to locate them within minutes.

Just 20 minutes after the 999 call, Wiltshire Police stopped the suspects on the M4 at 4:20 pm, leading to their arrest.

Both men were charged with robbery, and Emanuel Radu was additionally charged with dangerous driving.

Court Sentencing

Today, the court handed down the following sentences:

• Emanuel Radu – Two years and 10 months in a young offender institution.
• Becam Radu – 28 months in a young offender institution.

Impact on Victims

One Vodafone shop worker described the experience as “the scariest thing that has ever happened to me in my whole 22 years of life.”

He continued:

“The incident has not left me almost three months on. The impact has been huge from a psychological point of view and is not something that I ever see going away. The behaviour of these two individuals is absolutely disgraceful.”

Police Response

Detective Constable Michael Land from Wiltshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department commended the victims and store employees for their quick thinking, which helped police swiftly track down the suspects. He stated:

“Thankfully, no one was physically harmed during Becam and Emanuel Radu’s brazen thievery.

“I would like to commend all the victims and witnesses who were involved in this traumatic experience, particularly the shop workers whose quick actions protected their customers and enabled us to swiftly apprehend both men.

“This result demonstrates that Wiltshire is a hostile place for London-based criminals and that robust action will be taken to protect our communities.”

The case highlights the effectiveness of modern tracking technology and rapid police response in tackling retail crime.