Dec 11, 2007: Formby – Steven Gerrard

The wife of Steven Gerrard was confronted by four burglars at the couple's Formby mansion on Tuesday night. Alex Curran was shaken but not injured in the incident, which took place as Gerrard played in a vital Champions League game against Marseille. A Rolex watch and two sets of car keys were taken.

Nov 15, 2007: Woolton – Dirk Kuyt

The 27-year-old strikers’s luxury home in Woolton was broken into while he was away on international duty with Holland preparing for their European Championship qualifier in Belarus.

May 2, 2007: Woolton – Pepe Reina

The Liverpool goalkeeper was burgled while he played in last May’s Champions League semi-final victory against Chelsea. Jewellery, a Bang and Olufsen entertainment system, personal documents and a grey Porsche Cayenne were taken. The Porsche was found burned out in West Derby.

September 27, 2006: Alderley Edge, Cheshire – Peter Crouch

The Liverpool and England striker had his Aston Martin, football memorabilia and champagne, worth a total of £200,000 stolen. He was busy scoring two goals in the victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League.

September 14, 2006: Sefton Park – Daniel Agger

The Danish defender had property worth thousands stolen from his home in Liverpool.

June 19, 2006: Caldy, Wirral – Jerzy Dudek

The Merseyside home of the hero of Istanbul in 2005, was burgled in June 2006. He was on holiday in Poland when thieves took his Porsche car, jewellery and football memorabilia, including his European Cup winning medal. An offender was prosecuted.

2006

Everton winger Andy Van der Meyde’s Wirral home was burgled twice last year. His pedigree puppy was taken in one raid, but later returned, with some reports suggesting a ransom had been paid. Mobile phone footage of his Ferrari being raced around a Merseyside car park soon appeared on the internet.