Swedish striker Alexander Isak, 25, faced a shocking off-field incident last April. The Magpies star saw his Northumberland home targeted by a brazen gang of burglars.
This incident sent shockwaves through both football and local communities.
Newcastle Crown Court revealed that criminals broke into Isak’s residence. The burglars even stole a vehicle, which police later recovered near Dissington. Authorities confirmed these actions soon after the incident.
The gang had already struck before Isak became their target. They stole jewellery and clothes worth over £1million from a local businessman. Isak now marks the third victim in their high-value burglary spree.
Prosecutor Dan Cordey detailed the gang’s dramatic arrival in the UK. The criminals sailed from Calais to Dover on a ferry. They drove a Citroen C3 and a Ford motorhome, then sped to London and headed north-east.
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News of the break-in emerged just days after Isak played for Newcastle United in a win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Officers rushed to the scene when the attack hit around 10 p.m. A police helicopter scrambled, but the intruders quickly fled.
Authorities disclosed that the first raid occurred at the home of Helen and Michael McCardle in Newcastle on March 30, 2024. The burglars stole a CBE medal along with clothes, jewellery, gold coins, and handbags. This daring act shocked residents while the couple were on holiday.
In another brazen move, the gang raided a property in Sunderland. They seized designer clothes, jewellery, and cash valued at over £100,000. This series of heists rattled the local community and intensified fears of a broader crime spree.
The trial continues with dramatic courtroom scenes. Three family members from Italy admitted to conspiracy to commit burglary. Meanwhile, Valentino Nikolov, 32, from Tew Park Road, Birmingham, stands trial and denies the charges. His brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28; sister Jela Jovanoic, 43; and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, have all confessed to their roles in the crime.
