Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Members of an Italian clan of burglars who took more than £1.2m valued of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

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

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

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

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewellery worth £80,000 and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

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

The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".

Tyler Hall
Tyler Hall

A passionate gamer and tech writer with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry.