THREE men have pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries which targeted elderly residents following a Wiltshire Police investigation.

Blerim Rodogoshi, aged 41, of Summerhill Parade, Dublin, Klodian Ruci, aged 32, of no fixed abode, London, and Hazret Zmakaj, aged 25, of Wayfarer Road, London, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, December 1.

Following a report of several burglaries in Cricklade and Swindon overnight from Saturday, July 22 to Sunday, July 23 officers from Wiltshire Police Special Operations identified a vehicle travelling in the area linked to the burglaries.

The three defendants were stopped in the vehicle on the M4 eastbound with property confirmed to be stolen from the reported burglaries and were arrested.

Extensive enquiries, led by Wiltshire Police's Burglary Unit, then took place including analysis of CCTV footage and telecommunications, house-to-house and forensics, which led to the defendants being linked with more burglaries across Wiltshire, Thames Valley and Sussex.

Rodogoshi and Zmakaj were charged with seven burglaries, while Ruci was charged with four burglaries.

These include two burglaries in Cricklade overnight on July 1 and July 23, two burglaries in Swindon on July 22.

They were also charged with a burglary and an attempted burglary in Great Missenden and Pitstone on July 22 respectively, and a burglary in Crawley on July 4.

Following the pleas, Ruci and Rodogoshi were remanded into custody and Zmakaj was released on bail.
 
A date for sentencing has not yet been set.

Detective constable Gary Bracey of the force’s Burglary Unit, based at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon, said: “The defendants are prolific burglars who deliberately targeted addresses of elderly victims in the late evening or overnight.

“One of the group tended to act as the driver and lookout while the other two would enter properties via smashed windows or by prising rear windows open.

“If you have been the victim of a burglary or if you have any information on burglaries, please do not hesitate to contact us either on 101 or through our website.

“If a crime is in progress, always call 999.”