'Criminals watching' How sports stars are a growing target for burglaries
The Guardian|November 09, 2024
The best year of my life in football now doesn't feel like something I can celebrate," said Manchester City's Jack Grealish after burglars raided his Cheshire home while his family were inside.
Hannah Al-Othman
'Criminals watching' How sports stars are a growing target for burglaries

The invasion of the England football player's home was one in a recent string of burglaries that targeted the homes of high-profile sports stars when they are on the field or overseas.

To criminals, the home of a footballer is no doubt an attractive proposition; likely to contain tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of high-value goods, including electronics, jewellery, watches and designer clothing.

And with burglars able to gauge their best opportunities from the social media accounts of sports stars, who often post about their time away training or on family holidays - or even simply from the fixtures timetable - they often strike when the players are absent.

The County Durham home of England cricket captain Ben Stokes was burgled last month while he was away in Pakistan for the Test series, but his wife and children were home. A man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

Last year there were at least five burglaries on the homes of footballers alone, including the Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton's Northumberland house, and the Essex home of West Ham's Kurt Zouma, who is currently on loan in Saudi Arabia.

Thieves targeted Grealish's Cheshire home while he was playing on Boxing Day. His family were there at the time, and burglars escaped with £1m worth of possessions.

"This has been a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt," Grealish later wrote on Instagram.

"I have had so many amazing experiences and achievements over the last 12 months, but to be honest, the best year of my life in football now doesn't feel like something I can celebrate.

This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView All
Scientists pinpoint Andes as origin of potato blight that led to Irish famine
The Guardian

Scientists pinpoint Andes as origin of potato blight that led to Irish famine

It was a disaster that killed about 1 million people, devastating 19th-century Ireland, but while the potato disease behind the Irish famine is well known, a battle has raged over where it originated.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Oscars Versus Trump Academy nominations are a form of resistance
The Guardian

Oscars Versus Trump Academy nominations are a form of resistance

Reacting to Oscar nominations, actors traditionally err on the side of over-the-top drama. This year was no exception.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Sitting tight? Wide-leg trousers start to fade away as skinnies return
The Guardian

Sitting tight? Wide-leg trousers start to fade away as skinnies return

As the men's shows drew to an end this week, something looked different on the catwalk. Trousers hugged calves. Fabric that once billowed around thighs clung tight. Shoes usually hidden by hems were now visible.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025
West Bank UN raises concern ceasefire could be endangered by Israel's assault on Jenin
The Guardian

West Bank UN raises concern ceasefire could be endangered by Israel's assault on Jenin

The UN has expressed concern that the ceasefire in Gaza could be endangered by Israel's assault on the West Bank city of Jenin, which has involved what the UN human rights spokesperson labelled \"unnecessary or disproportionate use of force\".

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Kim Jones Dior designer given Légion d'Honneur
The Guardian

Kim Jones Dior designer given Légion d'Honneur

Yesterday afternoon in Paris was a big one for the British designer Kim Jones. Not only did the artistic director present his latest menswear collection for Dior, but he collected the prestigious chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, a rarity for someone from outside France. He was presented with the award by Anna Wintour.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Black gold: drinks giant Diageo 'may sell or spin off Guinness'
The Guardian

Black gold: drinks giant Diageo 'may sell or spin off Guinness'

The drinks company Diageo is considering cashing in on the booming demand for pints of Guinness by selling or listing the famous beer brand on the stock market, according to reports.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Doors can creak'
The Guardian

Doors can creak'

Locals spooked by paranormal in Adele's village

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Met police ask for transcripts from Prince Harry's case against NGN
The Guardian

Met police ask for transcripts from Prince Harry's case against NGN

The Met police have requested transcripts of the pre-trial hearings in Prince Harry's phone hacking case against Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire, the Guardian can reveal, as fresh calls are made for a new criminal investigation.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Replica of Anne Frank's secret attic on show in New York
The Guardian

Replica of Anne Frank's secret attic on show in New York

The first full-scale replica of Anne Frank's attic annex goes on show in New York next week, part of an effort to maintain awareness of - and combat - antisemitism in the midst of a Middle East conflict and political tensions in the US.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Trump in threat to eliminate disaster aid as he heads to California wildfires
The Guardian

Trump in threat to eliminate disaster aid as he heads to California wildfires

Donald Trump said yesterday he was considering \"getting rid\" of the federal agency that responds to major disasters, suggesting shifting responsibility to individual states as he visited hurricane-battered North Carolina on the first trip of his second term in the White House.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025