They acted as if they didn't know each other but their crimes were caught on camera

Three brazen shoplifters who stole around £200k worth of goods from Tesco have been jailed - after their crimes were caught on camera. CCTV footage shows the trio - understood to be part of a much larger organised crime gang - stealing dozens of items from the shelves in front of other shoppers.

In the video one criminal Nicolae Boia crouches behind a trolley and fills his bag with unpaid for goods - while his accomplices Laura Miron and Oviliv Firan act as lookouts. Miron then swaps baskets with Boia - and all three continue to 'shop' whilst acting as if they do not know each other.

The three thieves are believed to be responsible for over 100 crimes targeting large supermarkets - mostly stealing razors, alcohol, fragrances, beauty products, and electric goods. In their highest value theft, they stole champagne bottles - bringing the value of just one spree to more than £4,500.

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While it has been proven that they stole goods worth just under £200,000, Surrey Police say the true total is likely significantly higher. Boia, 30, Miron, 27, and Firan, 38, would work as a team to grab and conceal items from Tesco's shelves - before either leaving the store without payment or heading to self-checkout to make a small token purchase.

They were so bold in their offending that on some sprees - they simply changed clothes before returning to the same store to commit further offences. Crimes connected to the group were linked to multiple locations cross the country - from Poole and Portsmouth in the south and Chorley and Wigan in the north to Bristol in the west and Gillingham in the east.

Surrey Police's investigation began when intelligence was passed on by Opal - the National Police Chief's Council's intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime. Officers worked in partnership with Tesco to wade through hours of CCTV footage and traced 11 shoplifting offences committed in Surrey.

They then successfully linked the criminals to 120 offences across the country - proving the more significant crime of 'organised conspiracy'. It is understood that Miron, Firan, and Boia were part of a larger organised criminal gang responsible for around 800 offences across the UK - but police believe they have ceased to operate since these arrests.

In their sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday (November 8), Miron, from Feltham, was jailed for three years and three months. Firan, from Hounslow, was jailed for three and six months, and Boia, also from Hounslow, was jailed for two years and 11 months.

All three had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal at Guildford Crown Court on October 28. The three defendants were key figures in a much larger organised crime gang responsible for around 800 offences across the country, police said.

Police believe the entire gang has ceased to operate since these arrests. Surrey Police Inspector Chris Thoday said: "This result is down to the hard work and determination of the team to ensure Miron, Firan and Boia paid the full penalty for their extensive and organised offending not just in Surrey but across the country."

"Theft from shops is a crime that may be seen to be 'victimless' but, for shop workers and law-abiding people who work hard to pay their way, it is a painful, unfair, and sometimes frightening crime they can often feel powerless to prevent. I hope this result demonstrates Surrey Police takes retail theft very seriously."

"We are grateful for the meticulous work of Tesco's crime and intelligence team and for the support from Opal. This case demonstrates how powerful we can be when we work together and we will continue doing so to tackle retail theft in Surrey."