Four Leeds Residents Jailed Over Elderly Burglary Scam in Yorkshire
Four people from Leeds have been jailed for a combined total of over 26 years after preying on elderly and vulnerable victims across North and East Yorkshire.
The group—Levantica Dragusin (30), Monika Dumitra (24), Ion Paun (29), and Zavaian Paun (32)—used a calculated ruse to target people in their 80s and 90s, exploiting their trust to steal cash and sentimental valuables.
Operating from Edgware Street and Edgware Place in Harehills, the gang traveled by car to different towns. Dragusin and Ion Paun acted as drivers, while Dumitra and Zavaian Paun, dressed in NHS-style clothing, posed as trainee doctors seeking sponsorship for a fake medical school.
Once inside the victims’ homes, one woman would ask to use the toilet while the other kept the homeowner distracted. Instead of using the toilet, they would search the premises for valuables, then flee with the stolen goods. The group used this method across multiple locations including Harrogate, York, Scarborough, and Bridlington.
Their scam unraveled in Scarborough when a vigilant neighbor confronted the suspects after seeing them enter an elderly woman’s home. The confrontation caused them to flee, but not before police were notified. The group was later intercepted by Humberside Police in East Yorkshire, still in possession of stolen items from their last burglary.
Detective Constable Sam Rivers from Scarborough CID called the crimes “disgusting,” stating:
“They preyed on the kindness of trusting elderly individuals, stealing items of deep personal value. I hope today’s sentences offer some peace to the victims.”
All four were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and pleaded guilty. Each received a six-year, two-month prison sentence, with Levantica Dragusin receiving an additional 10 months for a separate burglary offense.
Detective Rivers also praised the neighbor who helped stop the group:
“His quick actions stopped them in their tracks and ultimately led to their arrest. I’m very grateful to him.”
The sentencing took place at York Crown Court on August 22.
