Gerrard raid: Liverpool to step up security at players' homes

Dec 12 2007

Liverpool FC is to step up security at its players’ homes after Steven Gerrard became the club’s latest team member to be targeted by a masked gang during a football game.

Police said tonight the robbery, along with earlier break-ins at the homes of Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina, are being linked.

In last night’s raid, Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran was confronted by four thieves dressed in balaclavas or hoods as he led his team to victory against Marseille in the Champion’s League.

The couple’s daughters, Lilly-Ella, three, and one-year-old Lexie, were upstairs in bed at the time.

Merseyside Police said Ms Curran, 25, and another woman who was with her in the house, were shaken but unharmed.

The thieves escaped with a woman’s Rolex watch and two sets of car keys after breaking into the house in the village of Freshfield, near Formby in Merseyside, at around 9.30pm.

Gerrard, 27, was told the news as he left the pitch at the Stade Velodrome after his team’s 4-0 victory in which he scored the opening goal.

Ian Cotton, Liverpool spokesman, said: “We were shocked to hear the news last night after the game in Marseille.

“Our first concerns are for the welfare of Alex, Steven and the family.

“The club takes this extremely seriously and we will be looking at ways to provide cover for the players’ houses while they are away with the club on domestic and international duty.”

Last night’s robbery is the latest in a string of burglaries at the homes of Liverpool players during high-profile football games.

Dirk Kuyt’s home in Woolton, Liverpool, was burgled last month while he was on international duty with Holland.

The home of goalkeeper Reina, also in Woolton, was ransacked during last May’s Champions League semi-final.

Earlier incidents took place in 2005 and 2006 at the homes of Jerzy Dudek, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Superintendent Phil Scarth, of Merseyside Police, said: “I would like to express my sympathy to Mr and Mrs Gerrard for what is an upsetting experience.

“As with every burglary victim, we will be carrying out a thorough investigation and offering them crime prevention advice.”

He added: “There have been a number of burglaries targeting the home addresses of footballers living in Merseyside.

“We are linking these incidents as the incidents have taken place while they have been away at fixtures.”

There were three burglaries targeting footballers in 2005 and 2006, which resulted in the conviction of a man for handling stolen goods in June last year.

This year, there have been three incidents.

Superintendent Scarth: “Those affected have been targeted because they are wealthy and it is known that they will be away from the UK for specific fixtures.

“The Force already offers annual security reviews for the players, if they wish to take advantage of them.

“We are now working closely with the individuals affected as well as the club to offer crime prevention and personal security advice as well as stepping up security around footballers homes.

“The force is taking a co-ordinated approach to look into all the incidents, as we take all reports of burglary seriously.”