An Ealing burglar who worked with a buddy to raid 13 homes across Surrey and Kent was caught because the bungling duo left DNA, smears of blood, matching footwear patterns and always broke into homes in the same way. Drilon Merkohitoj, from Ealing, and Ervis Vela, from Kent, have now been jailed.
They carried out a spate of burglaries between December 2023 and March 2024, deliberately travelling for miles from where they lived to break into homes and steal thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and valuables. The hunt was on after one of the pair left a snood with DNA on in a recovered vehicle, which led to a further trail of evidence which included blood smears left at crime scenes, CCTV footage, matching footwear patterns, number plate hits, and mobile phone signal tracking.
Cops found the thieves had used the same vehicle. One wore the same distinctive black and red trainers, and they both targeted similar types of homes.
Their methods were systematic as homes were approached from the back, with attempted first-floor entry where possible. This was followed by forced ground-floor access, often by smashing windows. Once inside, the duo would turn the homes upside as they hunted for loot, typically targeting bedrooms for pricey goods.
They were both sentenced to three years and nine months in prison following a trial a Guildford Crown Court last Thursday, April 17. They each pleaded guilty to two attempted burglaries and seven residential burglaries.
Investigating officer PC Jordan said “This was a highly organised series of offences, carried out by individuals who deliberately travelled to commit burglaries in areas they had no local connection to. Their approach was systematic and consistent. Through that, key patterns emerged throughout the investigation and those details, along with forensic evidence and digital tracking, allowed us to build a compelling case against them.
“The sentencing handed down reflects the scale and seriousness of the offending. We hope this result offers reassurance to the affected communities and serves as a clear message that we will pursue and prosecute those who seek to profit through such intrusive and distressing .”
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