Spanish police warn footballers over security after thieves target the home of yet another Real Madrid star while his family enjoy a holiday in the Balearics
- Winger Lucas Vázquez is latest victim, with sentimental items stolen from home
- Police say houses are targeted during matches or while players are on holiday
- Team-mate Isco Alarcón and club head coach Zinedine Zidane have also had their houses raided in recent weeks
Police warn footballers to tighten security after a home of yet another Read Madrid star is burgled whilst his family enjoy a holiday in the Balearic Islands.
Real Madrid and Spanish police are stepping up security in a bid to stop armed raids on the homes of ultra-rich footballers after at least fifteen stars have been targeted this year.
Winger for Real Madrid, Lucas Vázquez, 27, has become the latest victim, returning after a holiday in the Balearic Islands, off east coast of Spain, to find his Madrid home ransacked.
No-one was in the house at the time, as his wife Macarena Rodriguez, 30, and one-year-old son Lucas Jr. are believed to have been on holiday with him.
Lucas Vazquez has become the latest victim in a string of 15 burglaries on Spanish footballers
Lucas Vázquez, 27, with his wife Macarena Rodriguez, 30, and one-year-old son Lucas Jr
But a ‘number of items of economic and sentimental worth’ were stolen, according to the police. No further details have been revealed.
Team-mate Isco Alarcón and club head coach Zinedine Zidane have also had their houses raided in recent weeks, as has former Madrid player Álvaro Morata. He was away on international duty with Spain but his wife, Alice Campello was inside with their twins.
Valencia trio Gabriel Paulista, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ezequiel Garay also suffered break-ins whilst on duty with their clubs.
Police say the houses and villas of football stars are increasingly being targeted by burglars, particularly when they are away playing matches or on holiday.
Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez’s house was targeted with the thieves taking items of economic and sentimental worth
Lucas Vazquez (centre in white) had been enjoying a family holiday in the Balearics when the burglary took place
It is understood Real Madrid is providing more security for their homes when unoccupied and advice is being given on the use of the social media in relation to not posting holiday snaps.
Karim Benzema, Pique, Kevin Prince Boateng, William Carvalho, Joaquin, Garay and Jordi Alba are some of the players who have suffered robberies in their homes in recent months, according to the Spanish media. Their homes are in different parts of Spain but police are investigating a possible relationship between all the robberies and whether an organised gang is behind them.
‘They are obviously professionals and the methods used are very similar,’ said one source.