Two prolific burglars have been sentenced to prison for a series of Rolex and jewelry thefts across London. Clirim Ferizi, 27, and Oresti Saliaj, 40, specifically targeted homes belonging to South Asian families. The stolen items included a Rolex watch valued at £7,000, gold earrings worth £1,500, and an antique gold and diamond ring valued at £1,200.
Investigators linked the criminals to the burglaries through a combination of CCTV footage, forensic evidence, mobile phone data, and crucially, Oyster card records. In one instance, CCTV captured the men breaking into a home on Shenley Avenue in Ruislip and leaving with stolen jewelry. They were subsequently filmed boarding a bus towards a local Underground station, where Ferizi topped up his Oyster card before passing through the barrier.
The following day, the pair forced entry into another residence on Marsh Road in Harrow. While their faces were covered during the burglary, police analyzed their travel history. Footage showed them arriving at Pinner Underground station and traveling by bus to the second victim's home. After the theft, they returned to Pinner station.
Evidence also revealed Saliaj, along with an unidentified individual, broke into a property on Oakleigh Park North in Barnet on January 30, stealing a £7,000 Rolex watch, other jewelry, and handbags.
Ferizi and Saliaj were arrested on March 23. Ferizi also faced charges for possession of a Class A drug. Their Oyster cards provided a digital trail of their movements, corroborating the CCTV evidence and placing them at the scene of each burglary.
Ferizi was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday. Saliaj, of Wembley Park Drive, Brent, had previously been sentenced to three years and six months in prison on April 22 at the same court.
Detective Sergeant Ross Smith of the Metropolitan Police stated that the investigation successfully combined various forms of evidence, including Oyster card data, to build a strong case. He added that the Met is committed to pursuing burglars and bringing them to justice, noting that burglary has decreased by 6 percent across London in the past year due to increased patrols and targeted actions.
