Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to participating in the burglaries

Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2m valued of goods, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to deny the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole money and jewelry valued at eighty thousand pounds and an car from footballer Isak's home

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Christine Mitchell
Christine Mitchell

A wildlife biologist with over a decade of experience studying sloths in Central America, passionate about conservation and environmental education.