A sophisticated Albanian organised crime group, which styled itself as a modern-day 'Bonnie and Clyde' crew, has been brought to justice after a brazen £1 million burglary spree across England. The gang's downfall was ironically hastened by their own social media posts, where they flaunted stolen luxury watches, designer handbags, and stacks of cash.
The Million-Pound Crime Spree
The five men, along with a British woman who facilitated their operations, meticulously targeted large homes and mansions across several counties between December 2023 and July 2025. Police eventually linked the group to a staggering 44 burglaries.
The gang's geographical reach was extensive, with break-ins recorded in:
- Derbyshire (9 burglaries)
- Cheshire (8 burglaries)
- Nottinghamshire (5 burglaries)
- Staffordshire (7 burglaries)
- West Mercia (9 burglaries)
- Cleveland, Leicestershire, and Warwickshire (2 burglaries each)
Operating with chilling precision, the criminals set weekly targets for gold theft. They often used ladders to access first-floor windows and balconies before ransacking the properties. The stolen haul, consisting of high-end jewellery, designer goods, and cash, was quickly sold on. Police confirm that while some items were recovered, the vast majority remains untraceable.
How the 'Bonnie and Clyde' Gang Was Unmasked
The investigation gained momentum after a series of burglaries in eastern Cheshire. Detectives from multiple forces collaborated, piecing together evidence that included matching footwear impressions from different crime scenes.
Key breakthroughs came from modern policing techniques:
- ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) data linked vehicles, including a red Ford Focus and a hire car, to the burglaries.
- Mobile phone data placed the group together at a coffee shop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.
- DNA evidence from a Staffordshire break-in was matched to one of the gang members.
However, the gang's own arrogance provided crucial evidence. During coordinated police raids in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield, and Birmingham, officers seized 13 designer handbags, 14 luxury watches worth nearly £17,000, and hundreds of photos of stolen goods. Their phones contained Google Maps links to targeted homes and messages where they openly boasted about their crimes.
Guilty Pleas and Awaiting Sentence
All six defendants faced charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property. The members of the gang are:
- Endrit Nikolli, 27
- Kristian Gropcaj, 30
- George Lleshaj, 31
- Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28
- Sidorjan Lleshi, 26
- Jade Tubb, 33 (Nikolli's British girlfriend)
Tubb played a key role in facilitating the gang's activities. In letters exchanged with Nikolli, the pair referred to themselves as "Bonnie and Clyde." She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property.
The group entered their guilty pleas at Chester Crown Court on November 28, 2025, and January 6, 2026. The five male defendants have been remanded in custody, while Tubb was released on bail. All six are scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2026.
Commenting on the case, Temporary DCI Ryan McVeigh of Derbyshire Police highlighted the importance of cross-force cooperation, stating the gang "caused misery for a lot of people across several counties." DS Laura Fox of Macclesfield Proactive CID described the group as a "high-level organised crime gang" who "regularly gloated about their crimes and shared images of ill-gotten gains."
"All six defendants had no option but to plead guilty and are now facing the consequences of their actions," DS Fox concluded.
