Burglars who targeted South Asian families sentenced

A prolific burglar has been jailed after Met detectives used Oyster card travel data to link him and an associate to a series of London burglaries in which more than £8,000 worth of items was stolen.

Clirim Ferizi, 26 (20.10.1999), of Tookey Close, Harrow, was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 November.

His co-defendant Oresti Saliaj, 40 (25.05.1986), of Wembley Park Drive, Brent, was previously sentenced to three years and six months on Wednesday, 22 April at the same court.

Detectives launched their investigation following a burglary in Ruislip in February. Through extensive CCTV enquiries, forensic evidence, and analysis of mobile phone and Oyster card data, officers linked the pair to several other burglaries. The investigation found they had deliberately targeted homes belonging to South Asian families, believing they would find high-value jewellery and valuables.

Items stolen by the pair include a Rolex watch worth £7,000, gold earrings worth £1,500, and an antique gold and diamond ring worth £1,200.

Detective Sergeant Ross Smith, who led the Met’s investigation, said:

“These offenders deliberately targeted families in their own homes, causing emotional distress and fear to their victims.

“This investigation brought together a range of evidence, including oyster card data which strengthened the case and helped build a strong evidential picture, placing both offenders at the scene of each burglary.

“We know burglary has a lasting impact on victims, and we're committed to pursuing offenders and bringing them to justice. Our approach is working, with burglary down by 6 per cent across London over the last year, demonstrating the impact of increased patrols and targeted action.”

Investigation

On Friday, 30 January, Saliaj and an unknown man broke into a house in Oakleigh Park North in Barnet and stole a Rolex watch worth £7,000 and other jewellery and handbags of value.

Detectives attended the scene alongside forensic officers to gather CCTV, DNA and obtain witness statements beginning their investigation.

CCTV enquiries later showed the pair surveying the address several hours before the burglary to identify the victim and monitor their movements.

On Friday, 27 February, Ferizi and Saliaj broke into another house on Shenley Avenue in Ruislip and stole several valuable items.

Detectives trawled through footage to trace the pair’s movements before, during and after the burglaries which revealed the men arriving at Ruislip station then boarding a bus towards the victim's address.

CCTV captured the men breaking into the home and leaving shortly afterwards with a bag of valuable items. The pair was then seen on CCTV boarding a bus back towards Ruislip Underground station where Ferizi topped up his Oyster card before tapping into the station.

The following day, both men forced entry into a house on Marsh Road in Harrow, although nothing was stolen. CCTV captured them inside the victim's home and searching each room before leaving shortly afterwards. Detectives attended the address and collected DNA and trawled through further footage.

After reviewing the footage, detectives found both men had concealed their identities with face coverings while inside the victim's home, making visual identification difficult. Officers focused on alternative lines of enquiry by analysing the pair’s travel history to strengthen the evidence, linking them to each burglary.

After tracing their steps, footage showed both men arriving at Pinner Underground station and travelling on a bus towards the second victim's address. After the burglary took place, Ferizi and Saliaj used transport links to head back to Pinner Underground station, leaving the area.

Officers arrested Ferizi and Saliaj on Monday, 23 March for burglary offences, while Ferizi was further arrested for possession of class A drugs. Following their arrest, officers carried out a search and found their Oyster cards. Analysis of the travel cards provided a digital record of timestamps detailing the pair's movements during and after each burglary, while also corroborating CCTV evidence.

Further analysis of Ferizi’s debit card showed he had used it to top up his Oyster card at Ruislip station providing further evidence that both offenders were in the area at the time of the burglary.

They have been sentenced to a total of five years and six months imprisonment.

Previous investigations

• Other arrests include Hetaj Dionis, 35 (09.01.1991) of no fixed address and Arben Cuka, 31 (29.05.1995) of Larch Avenue, Ealing. Both men carried out a series of linked burglaries in Hayes, targeting South Asian households over an eight-day period. Detectives linked the pair to the offences using doorbell footage, CCTV, phone data and travel records.

On Monday, 19 January, officers were called to reports of a burglary in progress at a home in Ealing. Officers attended within minutes and found Dionis on the roof attempting to evade capture. With support from the Met's Dog Support Unit, he was quickly apprehended and found in possession of a crowbar and items stolen from the victim's address.

Cuka was later found and arrested on Wednesday, 4 March. Both men were sentenced to a combined total of 5 years' imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 23 April.

• In a separate Flying Squad investigation, Patrick Doherty, 24 (01.01.2002) of Ferry Lane, Haringey, was identified as a member of an organised crime group that targeted South Asian households across London and the surrounding counties over several months.

Flying Squad officers analysed witness statements, CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data, which linked Doherty to each address at the time of the burglaries. Following a surveillance operation, officers arrested the group within minutes of them breaking into a home in south-west London.

Officers arrested Doherty on Thursday, 16 October 2025 and charged him with multiple burglary offences. He was later sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, 22 June.

Notes to editors

Clip one

Clirim Ferizi and Oresti Saliaj case:

0:01 – 1:22: Clirim Ferizi and Oresti Saliaj searching victim’s home

1:23 – 1:34: Both men walking through victim’s garden

1:35 – 1:49: Clirim and Ferizi surveilling the victim’s address before the burglary

1:50 – 1:55: Both men walking through the victim's garden

1:56 – 2:05: Clirim and Ferizi leaving the victims home after the burglary

2:06 – 2:11: Both men entering Ruislip station and using their Oyster cards to tap in

2:12 – 3:52: Clirim Ferizi’s arrest for burglary

3:53 – 4:13: Oresti Saliaj’s arrest for burglary

Clip two

Arben Cuka and Hetaj Dionis case:

4:16 – 4:54: The arrest of Hetaj Dionis for burglary

4:55 – 5:46: The arrest of Arben Cuka for burglary

5:47 – 7:04: Both men boarding a bus travelling towards the victim's address and getting off at the location

7:05- 7:18: Hetaj and Arben walking to the victim's home

7:19 – 7:46: One of the suspects climbing into the victim's garden and looking through the window with a touch

7:47 – 8:02: One of the suspects on roof the victim's trying to break in through the window

8:03 – 8:17: Hetaj and Arben leaving a victim's home with a bag of stolen items

8:18 – 8:42: Officers chasing Hetaj and Arben on foot

Clip three

Patrick Doherty case

8:43 – 9:30: The arrest of Patrick Doherty for burglary