Burglar pair left DNA, blood and footprints at raid scenes

AN Ealing burglar who worked with an accomplice to raid 13 homes across Surrey and Kent was caught because the bungling duo left DNA, smears of blood, matching footwear patterns and always broke into homes in the same way.

- By RAFI MAURO-BENADY

Drilon Merkohitoj, from Ealing, and Ervis Vela, from Kent, have now been jailed.

They carried out a spate of burglaries between December 2023 and March 2024, deliberately travelling for miles from where they lived to break into homes and steal thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and valuables.

The hunt was on after one of the pair left a snood with DNA in a recovered vehicle, which led to a further trail of evidence which included blood smears left at crime scenes, CCTV footage, matching footwear patterns, number plate hits, and mobile phone signal tracking.