Burglars who used Rightmove to plan raids jailed

A group of four Albanian burglars, who relied on Rightmove and Google to orchestrate dozens of break-ins at affluent residences across the UK, have received prison sentences. The criminals, including Kristian Gropcaj, 31, George Pepa, 31, Krisjian Dedndreaj, 29, and Sidorjan Lleshi, 27, admitted their crimes at Chester Crown Court. Their combined thefts totaled over £1 million in goods, such as designer accessories and gold items, with specific weekly goals for gold acquisition.

The gang, based in the West Midlands and Sheffield, targeted homes in multiple regions, including Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. A total of 44 properties were involved in the scheme, with eight in Cheshire, nine in Derbyshire, and seven in Staffordshire. Other locations included Middlesbrough, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Hereford, and Shropshire. Police revealed the thieves often accessed homes via the first floor, using ladders to bypass downstairs alarm systems.

“The gang were all members of a high-level organized crime group responsible for at least 59 high-value burglaries,” stated Det Sgt Laura Fox from Cheshire Police. “They specifically targeted wealthy victims, aiming to maximize the theft of valuable property. Weekly targets for gold were even set among them.”

Jade Tubb, Nikolli’s partner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal assets and received a 12-month suspended sentence, along with 200 hours of community service. Nikolli will face sentencing at a later date. The burglars systematically ransacked properties, removing bedding to create temporary containers for stolen items and extracting entire safes in one recorded instance.

Their strategy involved using Google to identify wealthy postcodes and Rightmove to study property layouts, enabling precise planning. This method allowed them to execute raids efficiently, accumulating significant wealth. The court highlighted their coordinated efforts, with Tubb playing a role in managing the proceeds of the crimes.

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