‘Burglary tourists’ suspected in Perrie Edwards and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain mansion raid
South American “burglary tourists” are suspected of being behind the raid one year ago on the Cheshire mansion of pop star Perrie Edwards and her fiancé, former LFC star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
According to reports from the Mirror, the police believe that the couple fell victim to criminals who had flown to the UK as tourists to carry out raids in affluent neighbourhoods. Likely, these professional thieves have already fled the country.
The Little Mix star and Champions League-winning former Liverpool midfielder, both 30, were home with their son when the burglars broke in. They used a ladder and entered the house via an upstairs window to avoid alarms. The thieves stole jewellery and designer handbags worth thousands of pounds.
No arrests have been made regarding the £3.5 million mansion burglary. It left the couple “shaken and upset,” and they want the thieves to be brought to justice.
“This has all the hallmarks of a gang from South America who came here specifically to burgle. They would have left very soon after and gone back home,” said former Metropolitan Police detective Peter Bleksley.
“It’s possible the property was monitored. It is a very sophisticated crime model.”
Sources say around 500 burglars hailing from Brazil, Chile, and Peru come to the UK annually to target homes in regions such as London, Surrey, Cheshire, and the Home Counties.
Upon arrival, their British counterparts provide them with a vehicle, a phone, guidance to the targeted property, and advice on evading security systems. They manage to seize as much as £400,000 worth of stolen goods in each heist.
Many of these burglars leave shortly after the heist, but if caught, they are instructed to remain silent during police interviews and to plead guilty to safeguard the gang.
Burglary tourists in the UK
This burglary was just one of multiple cases of this type of crime in the UK. In June, a gang of balaclava-clad Chilean burglars entered the UK on tourist visas and raided homes in Wilmslow and Alderley Edge in Cheshire’s so-called “Golden Triangle,” where Edwards and Oxlade-Chamberlain reside.
However, their attempt at making “easy money” was thwarted, and they only managed to escape with £60.
According to the police, the gang arrived in the UK in late 2022 or early this year. They established a base in southern England, with their primary objective, as described by officers, to commit burglaries at high-value residences throughout the UK.
Only two months later, two Chilean women were jailed in August after targeting a businessman and his wife’s designer handbags and jewellery at Bernadette Pinkerton’s £3 million lakeside residence in Cheshire. A third person already residing in England brought them to the house.
The two took possessions valued at up to £15,000, including gifts given to the 62-year-old.
They tampered with CCTV cameras and then fled in the direction of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where it is suspected they boarded a flight back to South America along with their stolen items.
Extra protection for HNWIs
High net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who live in affluent areas are often targets for criminals, even in their homes. This is because they are perceived to have valuable possessions, especially for burglars. As a result, HNWIs need to take extra precautions to stay safe.
Security companies like Marengo can add extra protection for HNWIs. With their expertise and resources, they can develop and implement comprehensive security plans tailored to each client’s specific needs.
If deemed necessary, HNWIs can also invest in round-the-clock protection to feel more at ease and focus on their personal lives without worrying about their safety.
Sources:
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/thieves-who-raided-perrie-edwards-27911326
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/raiders-who-targeted-perrie-edwards-27912104
