In dramatic early morning raids, armed police stormed the homes of a prolific criminal gang, dragging them from their beds and bringing an end to a nationwide burglary spree that netted over £1 million.
The Reign of a High-Value Crime Gang
Five Albanian men and one British woman have been convicted for their roles in a sophisticated organised crime network responsible for at least 44 high-value burglaries across England. The gang, which operated for over a year, specifically targeted wealthy households, ransacking properties for jewellery, designer handbags, watches, and cash.
The convicted individuals are Kristian Gropcaj, 30, of Gas Street, Birmingham; Endrit Nikolli, 27; George Lleshaj, 31; Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28, all of Crabtree Road, Walsall; Sidorjan Lleshi, 26, of Durlstone Drive, Sheffield; and Jade Tubb, 33, also of Crabtree Road, Walsall. Tubb was in a relationship with Nikolli and was pursued for spending the gang's illicit profits.
Their crime wave stretched from the North East to the Midlands, with burglaries recorded in Staffordshire, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Cleveland. The total estimated value of stolen goods exceeded £1 million, with only a fraction recovered as most items were believed to have been sold on.
How the Net Closed: Trainers and Tech
The gang's downfall began when Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into a series of break-ins in areas including Macclesfield and Prestbury in October 2024. A crucial piece of evidence linked the crimes: footprints from a pair of Primark trainers found at multiple scenes.
Officers used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles present at the raids. This led them to a red Ford Focus insured to Gropcaj and a hire car booked by Tubb. Telephone analysis further revealed that Gropcaj was in regular contact with Nikolli, Dedndreaj, and Lleshaj, and that the group frequently met at a coffee shop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter to plot their crimes.
After months of collaborative work by the Macclesfield Proactive CID and Cheshire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, alongside forces from Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, coordinated strikes were launched. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, addresses in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield, and Birmingham were raided, leading to multiple arrests. Dedndreaj was later arrested in Surrey.
Guilty Pleas and Awaiting Sentence
All six defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property. At Chester Crown Court, Nikolli, Gropcaj, Lleshaj, Dedndreaj, and Lleshi pleaded guilty to both charges on Friday, November 28, 2025, and Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Nikolli and Lleshi also admitted an additional count of burglary each. Tubb pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property on January 7.
Detective Sergeant Laura Fox of Macclesfield Proactive CID stated the gang had "absolutely no regard for the impact their offences would have on the victims" and even set weekly targets for gold theft. During searches, letters between Nikolli and Tubb were found, in which the pair likened themselves to the infamous criminal duo 'Bonnie and Clyde'.
The gang members are due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday, February 20, 2026. Tubb was bailed and will be sentenced on the same date.
