A strange story comes out of London today, as a couple has been jailed after they apparently “groomed” their son to steal a £67,000 watch for them.
Ilie Para and Marta Para-Bloj, both 33 and originally from Romania, got their 6 year old son to take part in the theft by hiding a replica watch in his hood.
So you may be wondering what exactly went down?
Well, the pair initially saw a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in Harrods, which they took a liking to. So, after careful observation of the watch, and after taking a few pictures, they left and returned a few days later.
The couple are then said to have returned with their 6 year old son, and when the sales assistants back was turned, swapped the real watch with a replica which was hidden in the boys hood.
They were stopped and arrested in their Audi a few days later, and the Judge who was sentencing described it as “grooming”.
Judge Michael Grieve 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 then described how the theft was well planned, and how they had other watches in mind to steal initially.
He explained: “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.”
“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.
“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.”
The pair, after being stopped at Dover whilst wearing the watch, were arrested and suffered a tremendous amount of stress according to their defence attorney.
Para-Bloj was said to be pregnant at the time of the arrest, and suffered a miscarriage in jail, after being in great pain for a period of time and only being treat with paracetamol.
After they both admitted involvement, and how they regretted being part of the theft, Para was jailed for 18 months while Para-Bloj was sentenced to eight months.
