A gang of Italian burglars has been sentenced to jail for stealing luxury goods worth over £1.2 million from homes in the UK, including that of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. The gang, consisting of brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanoic, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, targeted three houses in April 2024.
According to prosecutor Daniel Cordey, the Nikolov family were professional burglars, with two members previously banned from Switzerland for theft. Valentino, 32, was convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and received a 10-year prison sentence. The other members, who confessed to their involvement, were each imprisoned for between six and eight years.
The gang arrived in the UK via ferry from Calais and used a black Citroen C3 and a Ford campervan as their mode of transportation. They set up base at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while scouting out their targets and carrying out the burglaries. Jela, 43, acted as the driver while her son and brothers conducted the break-ins.
Their first target was a home in Newcastle, where they stole high-value items including watches, designer clothing, and a CBE medal. The gang then moved on to a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, where they stole designer handbags, jewelry, and shoes. They also monitored Newcastle United’s training ground before breaking into Alexander Isak’s home in Ponteland.
During the burglary at Isak’s residence, the gang took an empty safe, cash, and jewelry valued at £68,000. They also used Isak’s car as a battering ram to force open his gates before abandoning the vehicle nearby. The gang took precautions such as wearing gloves and masks, turning off their phones near the targets, and using stolen number plates on their car.
After escaping to the Walsall and Birmingham area, the gang was apprehended on April 13. Giacomo, 28, was found wearing a stolen Rolex watch, while Valentino and Charlie had prior convictions for burglary in Switzerland. The stolen goods, except for a damaged safe, were not recovered.
The impact of the burglaries was profound, with Isak expressing unease and loss of privacy. Newcastle United had to enhance security measures due to the incidents, affecting player recruitment and retention. Victims of the burglaries spoke of their devastation and loss of security, with one victim expressing fear and stress following the break-in.
All four burglars apologized for their actions and expressed a desire to be deported back to Italy to be with their families. They were sentenced to jail terms ranging from six years and nine months to eight years. Judge Robert Spragg described the crimes as highly sophisticated and planned, emphasizing that deportation was automatic for foreign nationals jailed for over a year.
