Alex Curran relives armed raid on her home

Dec 13 2007

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard stands with his partner Alex Curran outside Buckingham Palace, London, after he collected a MBE from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo: Fiona Hanson/WPA rota/PA Wire (400)

THE wife of Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard has spoken of her terror after being confronted by masked raiders at the couple’s home.

Liverpool FC is to step up security at its players’ houses after Gerrard became the club’s latest team member to be targeted by robbers during a football game- the incident is being linked to earlier break-ins at the homes of Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina.

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

Ms Curran told the Daily Mirror her greatest fear was for her daughters Lilly-Ella, three, and one-year-old Lexie, who were upstairs in bed at the time. She said: “It was absolutely terrifying, a horrendous experience.

"Lilly and Lexie were my biggest concern. Thankfully, they're fine as they managed to sleep through the whole thing.

"I'm still feeling really shaken up and too traumatised about the whole thing to talk about it much. I just don't want to relive it all.

"Fortunately we're all OK. Now it's all in the hands of the police.

"We've already got a lot of security here at the house. But we'll definitely step it up after this so, please God, nothing like this ever happens again."

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 about 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: “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.”

The 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 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.