A gang of burglars targeted the Northumberland home of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, stealing his car, cash, and jewelry worth £68,000 ($87,000), a Newcastle Crown Court heard on Wednesday.
The Swedish footballer was away when the when the break-in occurred last April, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Prosecutors revealed that the gang had earlier stolen jewellery and designer items worth over £1 million from a businesswoman and another £100,000 worth of valuables from a different victim in the days leading up to Isak’s burglary.
Three members of the gang, all from the same family and residing in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.
However, a fourth suspect, Valentino Nikolov, 32, has denied the charges.
Prosecuting counsel Dan Cordey told the court that Isak left his house between 4 pm and 10pm on April 4 and returned to discover his home had been ransacked.
The burglars reportedly gained entry through a glass door, breaking into the footballer’s TV room before conducting a thorough search.
“They took between £5,000 and £10,000 in cash, jewellery worth around £68,000, and his Audi vehicle, which was later found abandoned,” Cordey told the jury.
The prosecution described the burglars as a “professional group of travelling criminals” consisting of one woman and three men, all related.
“Two men and one woman have pleaded guilty to their involvement,” Cordey added, identifying the remaining suspect as Nikolov, who is representing himself in court and requires an Italian interpreter.
The gang reportedly entered the UK via a ferry from Calais to Dover last March, using a motorhome as their base of operations.
Nikolov’s brother, Giacomo Nikolov, 28, his sister, Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son, Charlie Jovanovic, 23, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
Meanwhile, Isak has been in sensational form for Newcastle this season, netting 22 goals across all competitions for Eddie Howe’s side, who are set to face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on March 16.
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