Premier League footballers are being targeted by foreign gangs who fly into the UK to ransack houses - before jetting out with their loot.
In a shocking development Mail Sport understands that organised groups, often from Albania, are lining up high net worth individuals on these shores – including top flight players - in a move that has not gone unnoticed by security forces who work with clubs and their stars.
After Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne became the latest big name to have his home raided, it can also be disclosed that:
De Bruyne’s 70-acre mansion in Belgium was reportedly broken into on Saturday while he and the rest of his family were away.
Last year the 32-year-old’s former City team-mate Raheem Sterling was forced to return home from the World Cup following a raid at his home in Surrey. Others, including Jesse Lingard, Joao Cancelo, Victor Lindelof and Paul Pogba have also been targeted.
Security sources have disclosed that there is now a worrying trend to contend with outside of the traditional criminal gangs from English cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool.
It is thought groups arrive from overseas armed with accomplices. They target high net worth individuals – including footballers - and scour the internet to find addresses. The aim is to swipe luxury items such as high-end watches and jewellery, with the crooks then brazenly walking through airport security wearing their stolen goods.
A worrying situation has been impacted by a change in spending behaviours. Clubs are aware that a reduction in the availability of traditional targets – such as vans carrying large amounts of cash from retailers to banks – has led gangs to look elsewhere.
Lectures have been delivered to players, aimed at reducing the likelihood that they will be targeted. They have been told not to post images on social media of holidays or of them attending events away from home until they have returned.
There are also concerns that the growing interest in the women’s game has led to an increase in unwanted attention at training grounds and outside stadiums.
And, on a number of occasions last season, stars in the men’s game were followed home after costly defeats for their teams.
Panicked players have installed wide-ranging security measures at their homes for some years. A number are understood to have spent hundreds of thousands on panic rooms. In many cases they are effectively a steel box, which feature secure lines and panic alarms which will work even if outside wires are cut.
Virtual perimeters, known as geofencing, are also commonplace. Geofencing is effectively an invisible wall on the boundaries of properties which are monitored by CCTV and motion sensors.
Should the system be triggered, occupants have time to reach safe areas, while assistance is immediately requested.
Drivers often double-up as protection officers, given the prospect of potential car-jackings, while some have live-in bodyguards. House sitters have also become commonplace – especially for those playing in Europe. Thousands have also been spent on guard dogs. Known as ‘protection dogs’ the highly trained animals include Alsatians and Rottweilers.
Players have been told not to visit jewellers but to instead have companies visit them at home. There have been instances of ‘spotters’ waiting outside high-end stores, seeking to identify potential victims.
A number of clubs, including Manchester United, have turned to specialist former bodyguards who have experience providing protection for the likes of the royal family and global leaders.
Some have their own, round-the-clock mobile response teams, ready to respond in the event of an emergency. Checks are now routinely carried out on hotels ahead of away games, and train stations should clubs travel by rail.
In some instances players pay for their own protection while the levels of security provided by each club is said to differ considerably.
Counselling and support has also been provided to players and family members who have suffered traumatic break-ins.