Two prolific criminals who targeted homes across London for Rolex watches and jewelry have been jailed, with their movements tracked by police using their Oyster card data.
Clirim Ferizi, 27, and Oresti Saliaj, 40, focused on homes belonging to south Asian families. The stolen valuables included a Rolex watch worth £7,000, gold earrings valued at £1,500, and an antique gold and diamond ring worth £1,200.
The investigation by the Metropolitan Police utilized a combination of CCTV footage, forensic evidence, mobile phone data, and crucially, Oyster card records. CCTV captured Ferizi and Saliaj breaking into a home in Ruislip in February and later seen boarding a bus. Ferizi was recorded topping up his Oyster card before tapping in at a London Underground station.
Further CCTV footage later showed the pair entering a house in Harrow. Although they wore face coverings inside the victim's home, analysis of their travel history placed them at the scene. Detectives traced their movements from Pinner Underground station to the vicinity of the second burglary.
In a separate incident on January 30, Saliaj, along with an unidentified individual, broke into a home in Barnet and stole a Rolex watch and other valuable items. Following these burglaries, Ferizi and Saliaj were arrested on March 23. Ferizi also faced additional charges for possession of a Class A drug.
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, who led the investigation, stated that the Oyster card data provided a crucial digital record, corroborating CCTV evidence and placing the offenders at the scenes of the burglaries. He emphasized the lasting impact of burglary on victims and the commitment to bringing offenders to justice, noting a 6 percent decrease in burglaries across London over the past year.