Albanian Gang's £3 Million Burglary Spree Exposed in CCTV Footage
Shocking CCTV footage has emerged showing two members of an Albanian burglary gang struggling to haul a stolen safe over a garden fence during a massive £3 million crime spree targeting luxury homes across England. The six-strong criminal organization has been linked to at least 59 burglaries spanning Derbyshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and West Mercia.
Brazen Theft Captured on Camera
The surveillance video from a Cheshire raid reveals two masked burglars stumbling into a back garden while carrying a heavy safe. Visibly struggling with its weight, they shuffle across a patio and onto the lawn before raising the safe to shoulder level to push it over a wooden fence. This footage provides a rare glimpse into the gang's audacious methods during their nationwide crime wave.
Prosecutor Stella Hayden told Chester Crown Court: "These defendants were part of a criminal gang which scoured the country to identify properties likely to yield the richest pickings." The gang specifically targeted upmarket properties for their size, the likely wealth of owners, proximity to open countryside and woodland, and even availability of parking for easy getaways.
Sophisticated Targeting Methods
Detectives discovered the gang used sophisticated methods to select their targets, including property websites like Rightmove that sometimes included floor plans. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Dave Worthington of Cheshire Police explained: "They used Google and Rightmove to help select targets as Rightmove can include floor plans of properties, which is quite shrewd."
The burglars typically gained entry by using ladders to access first-floor windows and balconies, deliberately avoiding burglar alarms. Once inside, they would ransack properties, stealing jewellery, designer handbags, watches, and cash. On two occasions, they removed entire safes which they carried into nearby fields to open.
Medical Student's Bonnie and Clyde Fantasy
One of the most surprising aspects of the case involved gang member Endrit Nikolli, 27, who began a relationship with British medical student Jade Tubb, 33. The mother-of-two compared herself and her lover to the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde, even sending Nikolli an anniversary card with the message "to my Clyde from Bonnie."
Tubb pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property after hiring cars used to ferry the gang to their targets, usually near the M1 or M6 motorways. When arrested, she had stolen handbags from two burglaries in her possession. Prosecutor Hayden stated the Bonnie and Clyde message was "evidence of her knowing involvement in Endrit Nikolli's criminality."
Devastating Impact on Victims
Judge Patrick Thompson emphasized the profound psychological impact on victims during sentencing, noting that "children were frightened to return to their bedrooms" and the burglars had "shaken the foundations of safety and security" of those they targeted. Many victims reported no longer feeling safe in their own homes, constantly checking locks, and jumping at unfamiliar noises.
One victim, Jean Howell-Higgins, whose Cheshire home was burgled while she fetched a prescription for her husband with multiple sclerosis, described how the gang apparently waited until her car wasn't on the drive before striking. "Clearly these people had been watching our home, waiting for such an opportunity, which was a very nasty feeling," she told the court.
Gang's Lavish Lifestyle and Capture
Police recovered images showing gang members gloating over giant wads of cash and brandishing stolen luxury watches. Social media posts revealed some members enjoying a party lifestyle in Albania, with photos of sightseeing trips to Monte Carlo, Paris, and Milan. One member even boasted about his silver Mercedes with the caption "My car."
The police investigation began in October 2024 when detectives noticed a pattern of burglaries using similar tactics. A ten-month operation eventually led to raids on July 2 last year at addresses in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield, and Birmingham. Forensic evidence included blood left at one scene and footprints from Primark trainers.
Sentencing and Consequences
Four gang members received substantial prison sentences: Sidorjan Lleshi, 26, was jailed for 10 years and nine months; Kristian Gropcaj, 30, received 10 years; while Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28, and George Pepa, 31, both got nine-year terms. Three of the Albanians were illegal immigrants who will be deported after serving their sentences.
Medical student Jade Tubb narrowly avoided prison, receiving a 12-month sentence suspended for two years. Judge Thompson told her she should "hang her head in shame" and warned she may have "thrown away your medical career." The judge said he would inform the General Medical Council about her conviction.
The gang targeted 44 homes across England from Herefordshire to Middlesbrough, with the bulk of crimes occurring between December 2024 and March 2025. While police recovered over 500 items including designer watches, handbags, and jewellery worth almost £17,000, most stolen property had been melted down or sold. Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act will begin this summer to recover the gang's ill-gotten gains.
