London‘s second-largest home after Buckingham Palace was struck by a heavily pregnant burglar who stole more than half a million pounds’ worth of jewellery by posing as a cleaner.
Prolific thief Luminita Zamfir, 24, told staff she had been sent by an agency for a trial shift and was escorted into a £105million mansion in central London.
Despite the home being under the protection of former elite Royal protection officers, Zamfir snatched £548,565 worth of rings, necklaces and earrings belonging to a wealthy international business family on February 5.
Zamfir also carried out two further heists, stealing more than £50,000 in watches, cufflinks and cash from the London homes of a property mogul and a property management boss.
She was snared through DNA evidence left on a tissue at one of the homes, and CCTV footage that caught her in the act.
None of the loot has been recovered, however.
Zamfir gave birth on April 18 while she was on remand and now faces a lengthy jail term after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary on Tuesday (May 13).
She appeared at Wood Green Crown Court via video-link from HMP Bronzefield while cradling the newborn child.
Luminita Zamfir, 24, faces jail for breaking into the second largest private residence in London
The London mansion where more than half a million in rings, earrings and necklaces was stolen
Zamfir’s spree began on November 28 last year when she raided the £11million home of Sean Gorvy, making off with £50,000 worth of watches and cufflinks.
She then went onto target the mansion which London’s second largest private residence.
Security guards at the mansion provided police officers with CCTV from inside the property.
Tim Sleigh-Johnson, prosecuting, said Zamfir began her heist at the luxury residence by knocking at the home next door – which was used to house staff for the family.
‘This defendant was not known to the staff, and she said she was a trial cleaner. She was therefore allowed into the property (next door) and left later that day,’ he said.
She was escorted to the main property to ‘complete her shift’ when she was then able to steal the items.
The prosecutor added: ‘When the occupants returned valuable property – jewellery and other items – were found to be stolen which has been valued at £548,565 – or half a million of jewellery.
‘CCTV footage from inside the address was provided to the police and Zamfir was identified by the police.’
Pippa’s stolen antique gold Intaglio ring depicting the Roman goddess of wisdom Minerva
Then five days after the mansion raid she looted a valuable ring, a Gucci watch and £200 in cash from the £1.6 million home of a property management couple.
The wife Pippa, 61, told the Daily Mail the antique gold Intaglio ring depicting the Roman goddess of wisdom Minerva was her father’s engagement ring and held a deeply sentimental value as he died aged 96 in September last year.
On 10 February her husband Christopher, 62, was at home expecting a delivery when Zamfir knocked at the door saying she was a cleaner.
Pippa said: ‘She said she was a cleaner and came right in. She flicked her shoes off and began to pet the dogs.
‘Then she went upstairs and into one of the bedrooms, which is when we think she must have taken the ring, watch and cash.
‘Christopher was upstairs in his study and began to think something did not seem right and came downstairs and saw her plumping the cushions.’
Pippa suspects Zamfir panicked when she saw Christopher looking at her and fled.
‘She quickly said she needed to go out and buy some cleaning products and would be back in ten minutes,’ Pippa added.
But she never returned.
The couple provided footage from their Ring doorbell to their usual cleaning agency and when they confirmed Zamfir was unknown to them, the film was passed to the police.
Officers had previously collected a DNA sample from a tissue left at the home of Mr Gorvy, and found it matched Zamfir, who has multiple burglary convictions dating back to 2016.
Zamfir, originally from Romania, was advised by Judge John Dodd KC she should indicate where the stolen items had been hidden.
He said: ‘These are clearly extremely serious offences, and you must expect to receive a term of imprisonment.
‘I will just add one other thing, one you might want to speak to your counsel about, because not only will it help you, it will help the victims of these various crimes.
‘If you were prepared to tell the police where it has all gone that would be extremely powerful mitigation.’
Dhaneshwar Sharma, defending, had to translate the hearing for his client due to a lack of interpreter and said: ‘I shall only say this today: it is very telling her husband is not here.’
Zamfir has four previous convictions for burglary and shoplifting offences.
She will be sentenced on 11 June.
