Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

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

The group of four were jailed for between a decade or less in 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the only one of the foursome to contest burglary but was found guilty by jurors

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took cash and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Court Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".

Amanda Wilson
Amanda Wilson

A passionate gamer and strategy expert with years of experience in creating detailed game guides and tutorials.