Three burglars, responsible for a spree of six home burglaries, including three in the Swindon area, have been handed jail terms totaling more than 13 years following a thorough investigation by the Swindon Burglary Team.
The trio, identified as Blerim Rodogoshi, 41, Klodian Ruci, 32, and Hazret Zmakaj, 25, pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary and received their sentences at Swindon Crown Court last week.
Their individual sentences are as follows:
- Blerim Rodogoshi: 63 months
- Klodian Ruci: 45 months
- Hazret Zmakaj: 54 months
In July 2023, the group targeted homes in Swindon, Cricklade, Pitstone, Crawley, and Great Missenden, rummaging through personal belongings and stealing numerous sentimental items.
The impact of their actions on the victims was profound. One woman was woken in the middle of the night to noises in her home – when she got up to investigate she found a window open in a bedroom, a cupboard had been searched and items missing.
In another incident, the victim pretended to be asleep after waking and realising somebody was inside her home.
She described the fear she felt in a victim personal statement supplied to the court:
“The burglary was an extremely frightening experience as I feigned sleep whilst the intruders came up to my bed and searched the bedside tables on either side of the bed. I have been left with considerable anxiety when trying to sleep. If I wake in the night thinking I have heard a noise my heart starts hammering again and it takes some time before I manage to sleep again.”
Det Insp Sarah Champion commended the bravery of the victims in assisting with the investigation, stating, “The actions of these three men have had a significant impact on the victims – to be woken in the middle of the night by intruders is one of the most terrifying experiences you can endure, especially when you live alone. I would like to praise the victims who have helped us put these three individuals before the courts for their atrocious offending.”
She added, “I’m pleased that significant custodial sentences have been handed to the three men and I hope it provides some comfort and closure to the victims.”
