Albanian Gang Exploited Rightmove to Plan Sophisticated Burglaries
A criminal gang from Albania meticulously used the property website Rightmove to study floorplans of luxury houses before executing a series of high-value burglaries across the United Kingdom. The six-strong group, described by prosecutors as callous and calculating, targeted upmarket residences to steal jewellery, designer goods, and watches with an estimated total value reaching £3 million.
Bonnie and Clyde Comparison in Modern Crime Saga
Among the gang members was Endrit Nikolli, 27, who formed a romantic relationship with British medical student Jade Tubb, 33. Tubb, a mother-of-two studying medicine, compared herself and Nikolli to the infamous American outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde. This comparison was chillingly illustrated by an anniversary card she sent to Nikolli, inscribed with the message 'to my Clyde from Bonnie'.
Chester Crown Court heard how the gang specifically selected properties based on size, likely wealth of occupants, proximity to open countryside, and available parking for swift getaways. Prosecuting barrister Stella Hayden stated: 'These defendants were part of a criminal gang which scoured the country to identify properties likely to yield the richest pickings.'
Traumatised Victims and Violated Homes
The burglars typically gained entry through first-floor windows using ladders, deliberately avoiding ground-floor alarms. Once inside, they would ransack bedrooms while terrified homeowners sometimes barricaded themselves downstairs. Judge Patrick Thompson emphasized the profound psychological impact on victims, noting how 'children were frightened to return to their bedrooms' and the crimes had 'shaken the foundations of safety and security' for those targeted.
One particularly distressing incident occurred when Jean Howell-Higgins left her Cheshire home briefly to collect a prescription for her husband, who has multiple sclerosis and was asleep inside. The gang burgled the adapted property while she was away, stealing items from her autistic daughter's bedroom. Mrs. Howell-Higgins revealed: 'It took weeks to persuade her it was safe to be in the house.'
Sophisticated Planning and Brazen Execution
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Worthington of Cheshire Police explained the gang's methodology: 'They used Google and Rightmove to help select targets as Rightmove can include floorplans of properties, which is quite shrewd.' The burglars would travel hundreds of miles, sometimes using hire cars arranged by Tubb to cover their tracks, and typically targeted homes near major motorways like the M1 and M6.
The crime spree encompassed 44 burglaries between December 2024 and March 2025, spanning from Herefordshire to Middlesbrough. On one remarkable evening in December 2024, different gang members carried out burglaries over 100 miles apart in Middlesbrough and north Derbyshire simultaneously.
Lavish Loot and Digital Evidence
Police recovered extensive digital evidence including:
- CCTV footage showing gang members escaping with bags of loot
- Mobile phone images of stolen watches, jewellery, and cash
- Messages bragging about their hauls
- Google Maps links correlating with burglary locations
One exchange between gang members Sidorjan Lleshi and Kristian Gropcaj revealed their arrogance. After ransacking a Cheshire property in November 2024, Lleshi messaged: 'F***, what a house it was.' Following another successful raid, he sent a picture of jewellery on scales declaring: 'We've added another four grammes.'
International Dimensions and Legal Outcomes
Three of the Albanian gang members - Lleshi, George Pepa, and Krisjian Dedndreaj - had entered the UK illegally despite apparently enjoying affluent lifestyles in Albania. Social media posts showed them enjoying party lifestyles, with one member posting images from Monte Carlo, Paris, and Milan, and another posing beside a silver Mercedes boasting: 'My car.'
The sentencing outcomes were severe:
- Sidorjan Lleshi: 10 years and 9 months imprisonment
- Kristian Gropcaj: 10 years imprisonment
- Krisjian Dedndreaj: 9 years imprisonment
- George Pepa: 9 years imprisonment (involved in 5 burglaries)
Jade Tubb received a 12-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property. Judge Thompson told her she should 'hang her head in shame' and warned she may have 'thrown away your medical career.' The judge indicated he would inform the General Medical Council about her conviction.
Forensic Investigation and Recovery Efforts
The police investigation began in October 2024 when Cheshire detectives noticed patterns in burglary tactics. Forensic evidence included blood at one scene and footprints from Primark trainers. While officers recovered over 500 items from defendants' addresses, including designer watches, handbags, and jewellery worth almost £17,000, most stolen items had already been melted down or sold.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition and cell-site technology helped identify vehicles and mobile phone activity linking the gang to multiple crime scenes. The breakthrough came when Nikolli's DNA was linked to a Staffordshire burglary, prompting a coordinated operation across several police forces to apprehend the entire network.
Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will commence in summer to recover the gang's illicit gains. The three illegal immigrants will be deported to Albania after serving their sentences, while Nikolli awaits sentencing later this month.
