Five Albanian men and a British woman have admitted their roles in high value burglaries across the UK, including three in Willaston near Nantwich.
Endrit Nikolli, 27, Kristian Gropcaj, 30, George Lleshaj, 31, Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28, and Sidorjan Lleshi, 26, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Nikolli and Lleshi also both admitted one additional count of burglary, in relation to two burglaries in Staffordshire in March 2024 and December 2023.
Jade Tubb, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to posses criminal property on Wednesday 7 January.
The investigation against the gang began in October 2024 when detectives became aware of a series of burglaries across the eastern area of Cheshire, including incidents in Willaston, Weston, Macclesfield and Prestbury.
On each occasion the offenders gained entry using ladders to access first floor windows and balconies.
Once inside they ransacked properties, stole jewellery, designer handbags, watches and cash.
Officers spoke to other forces across the UK who reported similar incidents.
Following collaboration between Derbyshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police and Staffordshire Police, detectives linked the incidents in Cheshire to others across the UK through footwear marks at the scenes.
After linking the incidents, officers used ANPR technology to identify vehicles present at all of the incidents.
Detectives discovered that a red Ford Focus which was insured to Gropcaj had been present during many of the incidents.
They also found a hire car booked by Tubb had been used during many of the other burglaries.
Telephone checks on Gropcaj revealed he had been in contact with Nikolli, Dedndreaj, and Lleshaj.
Further enquiries revealed the four men had been meeting regularly at a coffee shop in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham.
Officers were also able to establish that Tubb was in a relationship with Nikolli.
Traces of DNA from Nikolli were also found at the scene of a burglary in Staffordshire.
On July 2nd, Cheshire officers led a series of raids at addresses in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham, leading to the arrests of Nikolli, Lleshaj, Gropcaj and Tubb.
The raids were supported by officers from Staffordshire Police, Derbyshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police.
Dedndreaj was later arrested in Surrey.
During the raids officers recovered 13 designer handbags, along with 14 watches worth almost £17,000.
Several mobile phones were recovered and during analysis officers recovered hundreds of images of the stolen items, along with messages which contained links to Google maps which correlated with the scene of the burglaries.
In addition, officers recovered messages which showed there was a sixth member of the gang – Sidorjan Lleshi, who was living in Sheffield.
A raid was conducted at Lleshi’s home on September 3rd where the 26-year-old was arrested.
All six defendants were later charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Through all of the evidence gathered, officers were able to link the gang to at least 44 burglaries across the UK.
The estimated value of the items stolen is in excess of £1 million and while some items have been recovered, the vast majority are believed to have been sold on.
Det Sgt Laura Fox, of Macclesfield Proactive CID said: “This investigation is a result of a detailed collaboration between forces across several months, with an unwavering commitment and tenacity to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“Nikolli, Gropcaj, Dedndreaj, Lleshaj,Lleshi and Tubb were all members of a high-level organised crime gang responsible for at least 44 high value burglaries across the UK.
“All of the incidents were carefully orchestrated, with the gang researching their targets before committing their crimes, even expanding their crime spree across multiple forces in an effort to go undetected.
“The gang specifically targeted wealthy victims, with the aim of stealing as much high value property as possible. Between them, they even set weekly targets for the amount of gold that they wanted to steal.
“Nikolli, Gropcaj, Dedndreaj, Lleshaj and Lleshi were all responsible for conducting the burglaries, while Tubb was happy to spend their ill gotten gains.
“During the searches, we recovered letters between Nikolli and Tubb, in which the pair described themselves as ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, in reference to how they were working together to conduct the burglaries.
“Throughout our investigation it has been clear that the gang had absolutely no regard for the impact that their offences would have on the victims. Instead they regularly gloated about their crimes and shared images of ill-gotten gains.
“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, all six defendants had no option but to plead guilty to the charges and are now facing the consequences of their actions.”
Det Insp David Jarvis, of Macclesfield Proactive CID, added: “As this case demonstrates, if you commit crime in Cheshire, you will be caught and you will be brought to justice.
“Our officers are committed to travelling the length and breadth of the country to ensure that those who cause harm in our communities are held accountable for their actions.
“I hope that the pleas entered today will provide some reassurance for the victims in this case and allow them to move forward with their lives.
“I also hope that this case acts as a warning to anyone else who is thinking of coming to Cheshire to commit crime.”
Dedndreaj, Nikolli, and Lleshaj, all of Crabtree Road, Walsall; Gropcaj, of Gas Street, Birmingham; and Lleshi, of Durlstone Drive, Sheffield, have all been remanded and will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 20 February.
Tubb, also of Crabtree Road, Walsall, has been released on bail. She will also be sentenced on Friday 20 February.
Chop their hands off and pack them off back to Albania on a sinking dinghy! Tubbs too!
Any chance after they have served their sentences they will be deported back to Albania.