Second man pleads guilty to his part in criminal operation to steal luxury cars

A second man has pleaded guilty to his part in a criminal operation to steal luxury cars in various parts of the country and he will be sentenced on April 17 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The intricately planned scam saw parties checking out cars advertised on DoneDeal, distracting the owner, switching the spare key and returning later to drive away in cars, such as a Mercedes, without paying anything.

Detective Garda John Murphy outlined this modus operandi during a related sentencing hearing for one of the accused who turned up at various locations, including Killarney, Co Kerry, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Tipperary town, Dundalk, Co Louth, and Conna, Co Cork, on different dates in March and April last year.

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, 47-year-old Rosmarin Serban of no fixed address has pleaded guilty to related charges and will be sentenced on April 17.

He admitted deception in relation to a Ford Kuga at Carrickmacross County Monaghan on March 13/14 2023; theft of key of car at Curraglass, Ballynoe, County Cork on April 3 2023; possession of a stole Audi car key to be used in connection with a theft on April 5 2023 at Conna County Cork; possession of an Apple Air Tag with intention that it be used in connection with a theft at the same date and place; conspiring with others to commit a serious offence – theft – at various locations in County Cork; and finally, possession of a false instrument, namely a Spanish driving licence in another name.