Staffordshire Police say an Albanian organised crime group and a British woman have been sentenced following a burglary enterprise worth more than £1 million, with Stone among the Staffordshire locations targeted.
The case involved at least 44 burglaries across the UK, including nine in Staffordshire. Homes in Stone were among those hit, alongside properties in Abbots Bromley, Aldridge, Marchington, Hill Ridware, Barton under Needwood, Cheslyn Hay, Kings Bromley and Cheddleton.
Stone among the places targeted
Police said the group stole designer handbags, jewellery, cash and expensive bottles of wine during the raids.
Some of the stolen property has been recovered, but much of it is believed to have been sold on. Staffordshire Police said some of the items taken locally had significant sentimental value, and work is still ongoing to try to get belongings back to victims.
The investigation brought together Staffordshire Police, Cheshire Police, Derbyshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police.
Detectives said a DNA hit in Staffordshire helped link one member of the group to the offending. Officers also built up a picture of how the gang operated and how the burglaries were being organised.
That led to raids at addresses in Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham, where four members of the group were arrested. Another suspect was later arrested in Surrey, and the final outstanding member was detained in Sheffield.
Police said officers recovered almost £17,000 in cash during the raids, along with 13 designer handbags and 14 watches.
More than 38 years of sentences so far
Five defendants were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Monday 13 April and Tuesday 14 April 2026, with prison terms so far totalling more than 38 years.
Sidorjan Lleshi, 26, of Sheffield, was jailed for 10 years and nine months for conspiracy to commit burglary, one count of burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property. A further 15 burglaries were also taken into consideration.
Krisjian Dedndreaj, 28, of Walsall, was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to commit burglary, along with a concurrent five year sentence for conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Kristian Gropcaj, 30, of Birmingham, was jailed for 10 years for conspiracy to commit burglary, along with a concurrent sentence of five years and six months for conspiracy to possess criminal property.
George Pepa, also known as George Lleshaj, 31, of Walsall, was jailed for nine years for conspiracy to commit burglary, along with a concurrent sentence of four years and six months for conspiracy to possess criminal property.
Jade Tubb, 33, of Coventry, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting conspiracy to possess criminal property.
A sixth defendant, Endrit Nikolli, 29, of Walsall, is due to be sentenced on Wednesday 29 April 2026. Police said he admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to possess criminal property, as well as one additional burglary offence linked to Staffordshire.
Police say victims suffered financial and emotional harm
Detective Constable Grant Dixon, from Staffordshire Police CID, said officers and staff from several forces had put significant effort into stopping the group and bringing them before the courts.
He said the impact on victims had been both financial and emotional, and said police had worked tirelessly to make sure the evidence presented in court was strong enough to leave the defendants with no option but to face what they had done.
Police say efforts are still continuing to identify and return stolen property where possible.
