Burglars who used Rightmove to plan raids jailed

Burglars who used Rightmove to plan raids jailed

Four individuals involved in a series of burglaries across the UK were sentenced after utilizing Rightmove and Google to coordinate their crimes. The gang, originally from Albania, targeted affluent homes, stealing over £1 million in luxury items such as designer accessories and gold. Their strategy included setting weekly goals for the amount of valuables they aimed to acquire.

Kristian Gropcaj, George Pepa, Krisjian Dedndreaj, and Sidorjan Lleshi—all based in the West Midlands and Sheffield—admitted guilt at Chester Crown Court. They received prison terms ranging from nine years to 10 years and nine months. Endrit Nikolli, 27, is yet to be sentenced, while his partner Jade Tubb, from Walsall, accepted responsibility for conspiracy to possess stolen goods and received a 12-month suspended sentence, along with 200 hours of community service.

The group’s modus operandi involved leveraging Google to locate wealthy neighborhoods and Rightmove to study property layouts. Once targets were identified, they executed break-ins, often entering through the first floor using ladders to bypass downstairs alarm systems. Homes were systematically searched, with stolen items packed into makeshift bags made from bed sheets. In one incident, CCTV captured them removing an entire safe.

“The gang operated as a high-level organized criminal group responsible for at least 59 high-value burglaries across the UK,” said Det Sgt Laura Fox of Cheshire Police. “They specifically targeted prosperous victims to maximize their thefts. Nikolli, Gropcaj, Dedndreaj, Pepa, and Lleshi conducted the raids, while Tubb was content to spend the illicit proceeds.”

Additional details about the group’s reach include burglaries in Cheshire, Middlesbrough, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Hereford, and Shropshire. The full sentences for the four men are now finalized, with further updates available via BBC resources.