"Wimbledon Prowler" Admits String of Raids On Village Properties

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Prolific burglar faces jail for 21 offences during an 11 year period

 

A prolific burglar dubbed both the 'Wimbledon Prowler' and the 'Fisherman's Hat Burglar' faces jail after admitting 21 counts of burglary, two charges of attempted burglary and one charge of going equipped to burgle when he appeared in court yesterday (April 24).

Asdrit Kapaj (pictured above) travelled from his home in Altrincham, Greater Manchester to target homes in Wimbledon Village during a period of at least 11 years, Kingston Crown court was told.

The 42-year-old stole hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cash and jewellery and is thought to have attempted to raid the home of tennis star Boris Becker, although that charge wasn't put to him.

Police had previously put out CCTV images of the thief wearing a fisherman's hat at burglary in Wimbledon Village (see below), and linked him to 200 burglaries in the area.

He was finally arrested on February 22 outside a house in Wimbledon, wearing a snood and carrying a gloves, a torch and a pocket knife. Automatic number plate recognition technology showed how his car travelled between Altrincham and Wimbledon.

Kapaj, who was remanded in custody before sentencing on June 21 and is originally from Kosovo, is thought to have gambled away the proceeds of his ill-gotten gains.

The locations of the 24 offences detailed in court were:

- 21 July 2008; Peregrine Way, SW19
- between 28 and 30 March 2013; Bathgate Road, SW19
- 7 July 2015; Drax Avenue, SW19
- between 7 and 10 December 2015; Somerset Road, SW19
- between 9 and 11 December 2015; Drax Avenue, SW19
- 15 December 2015; Leopold Avenue, SW19
- between 29 December 2015 and 5 January 2016; St Mary’s Road, SW19
- 16 February 2017; Seymour Road, West Molesey
- between 24 and 27 February 2017; Atherton Drive, SW19
- 20 March 2017; Lincoln Avenue, SW19;
- between 15 and 18 April 2017; Home Park Road, SW19
- 16 April 2017; Church Road, SW19
- between 27 April and 4 May 2017; Arthur Road, SW19
- between 27 April and 30 April 2018; Mackay Road, SW19
- between 18 and 21 May 2018; Arthur Road, SW19
- between 4 and 18 June 2018; Atherton Drive, SW19
- 2 September 2018; Home Park Road, SW19
- 6 September 2018; Copse Hill, SW20
- between 22 and 28 December 2018; Camp View, SW19
- between 23 and 26 December 2018; Belvedere Grove, SW19
- between 29 and 31 December 2018; Home Park Road, SW19
- between 29 and 31 December 2018; Arthur Road, SW19
- between 29 and 31 December 2018; Arthur Road, SW19
- 22 February 2019; going equipped for burglary.

April 25, 2019