Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to contest burglary but was convicted by the jury

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount due".

Kristen Peck
Kristen Peck

A seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting markets, specializing in European football leagues.