Success at court for burglary victims

The final man involved in a series of high-value burglaries across the North East has been convicted.

Valentino Nikolov, 32, is awaiting sentencing with his three accomplices, after their organised criminal operation came crashing down thanks to a relentless police partnership investigation.

His criminal counterparts, Giacomo Nikolov, 28, Jela Jovanvic, 43, and Charlie Jovanvic, 23, all of no fixed abode in Italy, realised the overwhelming case of evidence against them and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in December last year at Newcastle Crown Court.

Today (Tuesday), Valentino appeared at Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on the final day of trial and was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary. All four will now await sentencing at a later date.

This outcome has been the result of a complex operation led by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), supported by Northumbria Police, Staffordshire Police, West Midlands Police and Opal - which is the national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime.

The investigation was launched following a series of high-value burglaries to homes in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Northumberland between January and April 2024.

This included burglaries to homes in Darras Hall, Jesmond and Sunderland, in which cash, a car, designer wear and jewellery were among the items stolen.

Following the sentencing, NEROCU Detective Constable Mark Armstrong, said: “This is a fantastic result, which has been the outcome of an incredibly complex and comprehensive police investigation by several police partners. Burglaries are an insidious crime and causes a great amount of emotional and financial trauma to victims.”

NEROCU Detective Inspector Shaun Fordy said: “This is just the latest example of the work being done as part of Operation Sentinel – our region wide approach to tackling Serious and Organised Crime.

“I want to praise the efforts of all our partners, and the teams involved. We will continue to pursue those criminals who target our communities, and we will bring them before the Courts.

“We also want to encourage people to continue to remain vigilant by locking doors and windows and report any suspicious behaviour or criminal activity in their community.”

Christopher Atkinson, Head of CPS North East’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit throughout this complex investigation.

“It is testament to the quality of that investigation, especially the effective partnership work between multiple police forces, that we have been provided with such a significant amount of evidence. This has enabled us to build a particularly robust prosecution case, which has been instrumental in securing convictions against those responsible for these offences.”

If you have any information about burglaries or see anyone acting suspiciously, always report it to your local police. You can contact them via their website or by calling 101 or in an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, ring 999.