Prolific burglar who stole £500k of valuables jailed

54 minutes ago

Patrick BarlowSouth East

Dionis Doku, 45, committed nine burglaries across four counties

Kent Police A police custody image of a bald man with short stubble. He is looking into the camera. — Dionis Doku, 45, committed nine burglaries across four counties

A burglar who stole more than £500,000 worth of high value items including designer bags and jewellery from nine properties across four counties has been jailed after his DNA was found on a bottle of antibacterial spray used to clean a scene.

Dionis Doku, 45, emptied jewellery boxes and stole from a safe cupboard in burglaries across London, Kent, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire from October 2025 to February 2026.

Doku, of no fixed address, was caught after leaving glove marks and DNA at a burglary in Sevenoaks which matched scenes in Ashford, Putney in London, and Virginia Water in Surrey, Kent Police say.

He was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison at Harrow Crown Court on Tuesday.

One of Doku's victims said in a statement to the court: "I have two children who still have sleepless nights. They will not go into any room as they are too scared to be alone."

Doku caught on doorbell camera footage outside one of the burglaries

Kent Police A man wearing a zip-up top with a handbag strapped around his waste, and holding a box. He is wearing a cap on his head, and a snood covering his face. He is seen in black and white footage outside a house. — Doku caught on doorbell camera footage outside one of the burglaries

Another added: "My home is something l have worked hard for, a family home in the true sense of the word.

"It was a sanctuary from the outside world, somewhere my family have shared countless happy memories but is now a place of fear and violation."

A Kent Police spokesperson said Doku, an Albanian national, entered a property in Seal, near Sevenoaks, at about 19:30 GMT on 13 October, 2025.

He scaled a drainpipe and stole jewellery while the homeowner was in the kitchen downstairs.

Then on 5 November he stole £220,000 worth of jewellery, cash and handbags from a home in Ashford.

Doku was arrested in Ealing after his car was linked to a burglary in Virginia Water

Kent Police A bald man wearing a black hoodie stood by the side of a street. He is looking away from the camera. — Doku was arrested in Ealing after his car was linked to a burglary in Virginia Water

DNA from that scene matched to the Sevenoaks burglary and six others, including evidence on the trigger of an antibacterial spray bottle found at a scene in Putney.

Doku was arrested in Ealing after his car, linked to another burglary in Virginia Water on 11 February, 2026, was found in London.

He pleaded guilty to nine counts of burglary at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court.

Det Con Leo Graham said: "Kent Police officers relentlessly pursued Doku, liaising with colleagues in neighbouring forces, partner agencies, and international organisations to seek justice for his numerous victims.

"The investigation was a success thanks to lateral thinking and excellent teamwork from all those involved."

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