Burglars who used Rightmove to plan raids jailed
Burglars who used Rightmove to plan raids jailed
A group of four individuals involved in a series of burglaries across the UK, aided by Rightmove and Google, have received prison sentences. The gang, hailing from the West Midlands and Sheffield, targeted affluent households, amassing over £1 million in stolen goods. Their operations were marked by structured planning, including setting specific weekly goals for gold theft.
Convicted Members
Kristian Gropcaj, 31, George Pepa, 31, Krisjian Dedndreaj, 29, and Sidorjan Lleshi, 27, all admitted to the crimes at Chester Crown Court. Sentences ranged from nine years to 10 years and nine months. Endrit Nikolli, 27, is yet to face sentencing.
Criminal Tactics
The men utilized Google to pinpoint high-value postcodes, then scoured Rightmove for detailed property layouts. This allowed them to strategize entry points and identify homes with valuable contents. They would execute raids, targeting gold and other valuables, while using makeshift bags made from ripped bed sheets to transport loot.
Method of Entry
Cheshire Police uncovered that the gang typically gained access through the first floor, often employing ladders. This tactic helped them bypass alarm systems that only covered ground-level areas. Homes were systematically searched, with stolen items concealed in bed sheets before being removed.
Stolen Items
In one instance, CCTV footage revealed the gang extracting an entire safe from a property. The total value of their illicit takings reached £1 million, distributed across multiple regions. These included eight incidents in Cheshire, two in Middlesbrough, nine in Derbyshire, and others in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Hereford, and Shropshire.
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