Romanian Big Issue Seller Steals £50 From Blind Pensioner Customer

A Romanian Big Issue seller was caught by the public and off-duty police officers after stealing a £50 from a kindly blind pensioner, who was buying a copy of the homeless mag for £1.

Razvan Dumitru, 22, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Lower Edmonton was selling copies outside Morrisons supermarket in High Street, Sutton on November 30.

When the 66 year-old victim stopped to buy one he reached into her purse and snatched five £10 notes.

A mother with her two children saw what was going on and a passing man saw the pensioner was distressed.

Dumitru denied taking the cash and started packing up, but was detained after a struggle with the passer-by, who was assisted by a member of the store's security staff.

Police were called and the sergeant was assisted by two passing off-duty police officers.



Dumitru was found with £23 in his pocket and £50 in notes between copies of the magazine in his bag.

He was arrested for theft from a person and later pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court.


The victim was "over the moon" with the help she received from members of the public and police and would like to thank them for their support.

She told police she would regularly give the vendor £1 whilst shopping after recognising his voice from his sales calls, but would always politely decline the chance to take away a copy of the magazine because she couldn't read it.



Detective Constable Lee Blunden, the investigating officer, said: "At this time of festive cheer and goodwill, it's hard to imagine a less charitable act than stealing from a blind person.

“We would like to thank those members of the public who came forward to help this victim."

He will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on a date to be fixed.