A gang of suitcase snatchers stole luggage worth £14,000 from unsuspecting train passengers in a series of thefts, a court has heard.

Nadezhda Ivanova, 42, her daughter Gina Kalcheva and Mariana Petrova caused huge disruption, stress and inconvenience to the LNER customers.

The three women – who were aided by a Bulgarian interpreter in court – were tracked down because one victim had locator software on her stolen iPad.

Ivonova was jailed for 27 months while Kalchev, 22, and Petrova, 30, received suspended prison sentences at Newcastle Crown Court.

adezhda Ivanova (left) and Mariana Petrova (right) at Newcastle Crown Court today

The three women – who were aided by a Bulgarian interpreter in court – were tracked down because one victim had locator software on her stolen iPad. Pictured is Gina Kalcheva

The trio were targeting passengers travelling between Newcastle and Darlington on ‘various trains’ – and were captured on CCTV at different railway stations.

The first victim was targeted in June 2022 and had £815 worth of belongings stolen from her.

In an impact statement read to the court, she said the items were ‘irreplaceable’ and she suffered anxiety after the incident, the Chronicle reported.

She hasn’t travelled by train since and lacks confidence that her luggage will be safe. 

The very same day, another woman had belongings worth £6,000 stolen from her. 

Vince Ward, prosecuting, said: “In that woman’s luggage was an iPad with tracker software downloaded to it, and because of that the police were able to discover that the iPad was in a local youth hostel,’ the Chronicle reported.

Pictured is Nadezhda Ivanova, who has been jailed for 27 months at Newcastle Crown Court

Mariana Petrova, who received a suspended sentence for her part in the thefts

Gina Kalchev, 22, admitted three counts of theft at Newcastle Crown Court today

A few days later, another woman had more than £2,000 of property stolen. She was at the beginning of a journey back to China and lost both jewellery and medication.

In February last year, a man had £5,000 worth of luggage stolen – including two iPads and four family passports which were later recovered. Some of the items had been discarded in a churchyard.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Ivanova and Petrova admitted four counts of theft while Kalcheva admitted three counts of theft.

Petrova was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work.

Ivanova was jailed for 27 months and Katcheva got eight months suspended for 12 months, with 150 hours unpaid work.