Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from former NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to deny burglary but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole cash and jewelry worth £80,000 and an Audi from footballer Alexander 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 guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".

Jonathan Rowe
Jonathan Rowe

A Berlin-based luxury goods expert with over 15 years in high-end retail, specializing in artisanal craftsmanship and sustainable luxury trends.