Eight were arrested in connection with an organized crime burglary ring in Montgomery County

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Eight people have been arrested in connection with a series of residential and commercial burglaries in Montgomery County, Baltimore County and surrounding jurisdictions, the Montgomery County Police Department announced Friday. The suspects are believed to be part of a Romanian organized crime group dubbed the “Roma Crew.”

The arrests came Oct. 24 after officers with the 5th District SWAT team found suspicious vehicles near a residence on Essex View Drive that had reportedly been broken into several times in recent weeks. Officers from the 4th and 6th districts responded as the suspects drove to a residence on Garnkirk Forest Drive in Clarksburg, where police observed them committing another burglary.

After the Clarksburg break-in, the suspects were tracked to a WaWa store on S. Frederick Avenue. With assistance from the Gaithersburg Police Department, officers were able to arrest all of the suspects without incident. Seven of the suspects were taken to the Montgomery County Central Unit and charged with burglary. A suspect woman was taken to a local hospital and has not yet been identified.

Those arrested include:

Mercedesa Iordache, 50
Titina Sardaru, 57
Lorena Enache, 37
Flavius Stoikan, 44
Dumitru Velcu, 29
Denisa Chiciu, 29
Anisoara Iordache, 54

The arrests were made as part of a coordinated effort by the 5th and 6th District Community Action Teams, Gaithersburg Police, multiple district detective offices and SWAT teams, and K9 units.

The investigation is ongoing and authorities said more information will be released as it becomes available.

Mercedesa Iordache (original image)

Titina Sardaru (original image)