Two Colombian criminals who preyed on vulnerable victims at banks before stealing large amounts of cash have been jailed.

Armet Cortes and Willmer Guzman were members of a group that relied on ‘quiet, adept, and discreet’ signals to communicate after spotting a possible target.

After this their victim, who were often elderly and disabled, were distracted them by the thieves dropping coins on the ground or asking questions before they grabbed the freshly withdrawn money.

Now Cortes, 55, and Guzman, 63, both of no fixed address, have admitted conspiracy to steal and both face 44 months behind bars. 

Judge Andrew Smith said the Colombian nationals also face automatic deportation when they are freed. 

Newcastle Crown Court heard between August and April the thieves pocketed more than £63,000 from 14 victims across the North East of England as well as in Merseyside and London.

The largest amount taken from one person was £15,000.

In one instance the court heard how the gang surrounded a 71-year-old wife and her husband – who has now passed away – in Sunderland before they stole £3,000 from them.

Wilmer Guzman (pictured) was part of a gang that used ‘silent, skilled and subtle’ signs to communicate with each other once they had identified a potential target

Armet Cortes (pictured) along with his accomplice admitted conspiracy to steal and now faces 44 months behind bars. He also faces deportation 

The couple, who were in pain and have difficulty walking, were stopped as they struggled to get into their car.

Prosecutor Jessica Slaughter told the court: ‘The distraction involved screaming in foreign language and shouting.’

The court heard the husband used his walking stick to try and push the men away and during the confusing confrontation their money was stolen.

Miss Slaughter said: ‘This conspiracy was an organised and systematic series of offending across the country, over a seven-month period, with 14 individual crimes within that time.

‘There was deliberate targeting of victims, based on vulnerability.’

Miss Slaughter said the total amount taken from victims was £63,234.

Judge Smith said: ‘These offences involve targeting of often and usually vulnerable victims.

‘There were 14 individual offences identified as part of this conspiracy.

‘These victims were single women, unlikely to fight back or challenge you. Some of the victims were also vulnerable as a result of their age.

‘The theme was to identify potential victims in banks and building societies, victims who were, for various purposes, discreetly taking out large amounts of cash.

Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) heard that between August and April the thieves pocketed more than £63,000 from 14 victims across the North East of England as well as in Merseyside and London

‘You were lurking in banking halls without purpose of being there. On the basis I assume not every customer is taking out large sum of money, it seems likely you were there for some time identifying the victims.

‘On leaving the banks they were distracted by one or both of you and others who were involved in the offending.

‘These were skilled and I am satisfied practices distraction techniques.

‘This displayed a high degree of professionalism with regard to identifying victims and in the way the offences were committed.’

The judge added that the gang used ‘silent, skilled and subtle signs and gestures’ to communicate with each other.

The court heard the men have no previous UK convictions, entered the country legally and each claim they were separately approached by strangers who recruited them into the criminal activity.

Following the sentencing, North East Regional Crime Unit Detective Constable Andy Thompson, said: ‘This type of criminality has absolutely no place in the North East – it is an incredibly traumatic crime type for victims that leaves both a financial and psychological impact.

‘Cortes and Guzman targeted vulnerable victims and used manipulative and sophisticated methods to carry out their crimes. We worked closely with Northumbria Police to identify and pursue those criminals responsible, who we brought before the Courts.’

NEROCU Detective Inspector Shaun Fordy, added: ‘This sentencing is the latest success in our ongoing efforts to stamp out all forms of organised crime through Operation Sentinel in the North East – our united police response to Serious and Organised Crime.

‘Community intelligence is vital to police investigations, and we would ask members of the public to continue reporting any suspicious activity in and around banks and if you have been a victim, report it to police as soon as possible.’