Burglars jailed for targeting south Asian families in London

Two burglars have been imprisoned for a string of London burglaries, during which they stole jewellery and a Rolex watch valued at £7,000. Clirim Ferizi and Oresti Saliaj targeted homes belonging to south Asian families, believing they would find valuable items. The Metropolitan Police used a combination of Oyster card data, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence to link the pair to the crimes.

Barnet Burglary and Investigation Details

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Burglars targeted South Asian households, stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.

One of the burglaries occurred on January 30 in Barnet, north London, where detectives found Saliaj and an unidentified man had broken into a residence on Oakleigh Park North. During this incident, a Rolex watch worth £7,000, along with other jewellery and handbags, was stolen. The investigation into the pair's activities began after a burglary in Ruislip on February 27. Detectives examined CCTV, forensic evidence, mobile phone records, and Oyster card data to connect Ferizi and Saliaj to multiple incidents.

CCTV footage captured the men breaking into a property on Shenley Avenue and leaving with stolen items. They were subsequently seen boarding a bus towards Ruislip Underground station, where Ferizi topped up his Oyster card before entering the station. The following day, both men forced entry into a house on Marsh Road in Harrow, where they were again recorded by CCTV searching rooms before departing. Officers collected DNA evidence at the Harrow scene and reviewed further footage.

Although the burglars concealed their identities with face coverings during the break-ins, investigators analysed their travel history. This analysis revealed that both men had arrived at Pinner Underground station and travelled by bus to the Harrow address. After the burglary, they returned to Pinner Underground station to leave the area. Their Oyster cards provided a digital record of their movements, corroborating the CCTV evidence.

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Sentencing and Police Response

Ferizi, aged 26 and residing in Harrow, was arrested on March 23 for burglary offences and possession of class A drugs. Saliaj, aged 40 and from Brent, was also arrested on the same date for burglary offences. Ferizi received a two-year prison sentence at Isleworth Crown Court. Saliaj had previously been sentenced to three years and six months in prison at the same court on April 22.

“These offenders deliberately targeted families in their own homes, causing emotional distress and fear to their victims.”

Detective Sergeant Ross Smith, Metropolitan Police

Detective Sergeant Ross Smith, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, stated that the use of Oyster card data significantly strengthened the case and helped establish the offenders' presence at the scenes. He added that the police are committed to pursuing burglars and bringing them to justice, noting a 6 per cent decrease in burglary across London over the past year.