Double iPhone Heist: Man Charged Over £30,000 Retail Robberies
A 20-year-old man is facing serious charges after allegedly orchestrating two high-value robberies targeting Apple stores in a single day, making off with iPhones worth tens of thousands of pounds.
Avram Stoica, who is currently of no fixed address, was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Southend Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 24.
The Alleged Crimes
The charges stem from two incidents that occurred on September 22. Stoica is formally accused of robbing the Apple store in the Lakeside shopping centre.
During this incident, a suspect successfully stole a haul of the latest iPhone 17s, with the total value exceeding £30,000.
On that very same day, Stoica is also charged with an attempted robbery. This related incident took place at the Apple store in the Brent Cross shopping centre in North London.
Additional Weapons Charges
Beyond the robbery allegations, the charges against Stoica are more extensive. He has also been charged with two separate counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
This adds a significant layer of severity to the case, indicating the potential armed and dangerous nature of the alleged offences.
The swift charges and remand into custody highlight the seriousness with which the police are treating these brazen retail thefts.
