Burglars who targeted South Asian homes in Ruislip and Hayes jailed

A Harrow man has been jailed for his part in a string of burglaries on homes belonging to South Asian families. Detectives used Oyster card travel data to place him and an accomplice at the scenes.

Clirim Ferizi, 26, of Tookey Close, Harrow, was sentenced to two years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday 3 November, the Metropolitan Police said.

His co-defendant, Oresti Saliaj, 40, of Wembley Park Drive, Brent, was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 22 April to three years and six months. Between them, the two men will serve five years and six months.

Police said the pair deliberately chose homes belonging to South Asian families because they believed they would find high-value jewellery and valuables there. More than £8,000 worth of property was taken. The stolen items included a Rolex watch worth £7,000, gold earrings worth £1,500 and an antique gold and diamond ring worth £1,200.

How the Ruislip burglary was traced

Detectives began investigating after a burglary on Shenley Avenue in Ruislip on Friday 27 February. According to the Met, CCTV showed the men searching rooms inside the house. They then left with a bag of valuable items.

The pair were then seen on CCTV getting on a bus back towards Ruislip Underground station. Police said Ferizi topped up his Oyster card at the station and then tapped in. His debit card records later showed that he had paid for the top-up at Ruislip station, which helped prove that both men were in the area at the time of the burglary.

Officers used further CCTV enquiries, forensic evidence and analysis of mobile phone and Oyster card data to link the men to other burglaries. These included a break-in on Friday 30 January at a house on Oakleigh Park North in Barnet. A Rolex watch, other jewellery and handbags were taken, and the Met said Saliaj carried out that burglary with a man who has not been identified.

Ferizi and Saliaj were arrested on Monday 23 March for burglary offences. Ferizi was also arrested for possession of class A drugs.

Detective Sergeant Ross Smith, who led the investigation, said: "These offenders deliberately targeted families in their own homes, causing emotional distress and fear to their victims."

Separate case in Hayes

Alongside the latest sentencing, the Met also set out details of earlier cases involving burglars who targeted South Asian households.

Hetaj Dionis, 35, of no fixed address, and Arben Cuka, 31, of Larch Avenue, Ealing, carried out a series of linked burglaries on South Asian households in Hayes over eight days. Detectives linked them to the offences using doorbell footage, CCTV, phone data and travel records.

On Monday 19 January, officers were called to a burglary in progress at a home in Ealing. Police said they arrived within minutes and found Dionis on the roof, trying to escape. With help from the Met's Dog Support Unit, he was caught carrying a crowbar and items stolen from the house.

Cuka was arrested on Wednesday 4 March. Both men were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday 23 April to a combined total of five years in prison.

In a third investigation, Flying Squad officers identified Patrick Doherty, 24, of Ferry Lane, Haringey, as a member of an organised crime group. The Met said the group targeted South Asian households across London and the surrounding counties over several months. Officers linked him to each address using witness statements, CCTV and automatic number plate recognition data.

Doherty was arrested on 16 October 2025 and charged with several burglary offences. He was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Monday 22 June to three years and nine months in prison. The Met has released body-worn camera footage of the arrests from the three investigations.

Reporting a burglary

Anyone with information about burglaries in their area can contact the police on 101, or call 999 if a crime is in progress. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.