Mr Piatek was last seen in 2024
15:35, 13 Mar 2026
Large blue tents and privacy screens are in place at the property(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Excavation work at a Leicester home at the centre of a murder investigation is continuing, with police now appearing to be focusing on the front garden and driveway.
Leicestershire Police officers were seen entering and leaving the site in Broad Avenue this morning (Friday, March 13), as the search operation continues.
A digger was spotted at the scene.
It’s the first visible significant change at the site since police arrived more than a month ago on Tuesday, February 10.
Officers have placed multiple large blue tents and privacy screens at the front of the home, while the cordon, which previously included an additional five houses, has been reduced in size.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police declined to give any further details about the search, other than to say that the work is “a continuation of the searches at the address as part of the investigation”.
Residents living nearby have spoken about the impact the investigation is having on their lives.
Mohammed, who lives close to the property, said: “It’s the generator for me. They’re leaving it on all night, and I’m only two houses up from it, so we hear it all the time. You try to ignore it, but it’s on till like 12.30am, which is too late.
“I was shocked to see them in the front garden this morning. First, they dig up the back, and now all of the front.
“I wouldn’t have an issue with any of it except the generator being that loud. We’ve been having to live with it for a whole month, and I keep asking around for any updates, but I’m getting no information.”
Household furniture was being removed from the site(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Across the road, Sacha Bailey also mentioned the noise coming from the police’s generator.
She said: “The generator is annoying as it was on till 12.30am last night. It’s a relief to see some development over there this morning, though, as I’m hoping the investigation ends soon.”
Ms Bailey previously mentioned the generator being too loud when we visited Broad Avenue on Tuesday, February 17. She said: “They left the generator to their portable station on last night until 11.20pm. I could hear it while in my bedroom with my windows shut.
“I know it sounds really petty, but you can hear it going on throughout the day and at night when there are only one or two officers in the car outside of the house – you don’t need it on surely.”
The searches are part of the investigation into the disappearance of Gary Piatek, who lived at the house.
Mr Piatek, 60, has not been seen since April 2024.
Eight people have been charged in connection with the incident.
Two of them appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Monday (February 16) and were told that they are to stand trial later this year after being charged with the murder of Mr Piatek.
The others charged in relation to the case of Mr Piatek are:
Diar Muhammedy, 34, of Falmouth Road, Evington, Leicester, and Mabast Khalid, 21, of Manway Close, Birmingham, who are charged with assisting an offender.Dilan Rabati, 34, and Ahmed Nabla, 34, both of Broad Avenue, Leicester, have already pleaded not guilty to acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property – namely the house in Broad Avenue belonging to Mr Piatek – between June 2024 and February 2026.Dalya Rabati, 29, of Frazer Nash Close, Isleworth, London, pleaded not guilty to the same charge, as well as fraud in January 2025 in which she is alleged to have created a false tenancy agreement for Mr Piatek’s house.Nazem Kakamando, 50, of Gordon Road, Birmingham, denied acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property, which the magistrates’ court heard was a sum of more than £140,000 in cash, and fraud.
Leicestershire Police previously said officers are expected to remain at the property for several weeks.
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