Paris Saint-Germain’s reserve goalkeeper, Alexandre Letellier, along with his young family, faced a terrifying ordeal last week as armed burglars broke into his house, a local news outlet reported.

Four burglars held the 33-year-old, his wife and their two children, aged two and six, at knifepoint, as reported by French outlet RMC. These attackers demanded money and jewellery and allegedly struck Chloe, Letellier’s wife, in the face. Fortunately, Chloe did not suffer significant harm.

Chloe was awakened around 2 AM after the burglars triggered a security alarm at the residence in Hardricourt, west of Paris. The couple immediately contacted the police, but the attackers had already entered the garden by then.

“The alarm worked perfectly well and police intervened quickly as did the club’s security service,” one source close to the case said.

Letellier reportedly received support from his club following the incident. The family has also reassured supporters about their well-being.

“I thank you very much for all your messages. We are physically fine,” Chloe wrote on her Instagram account.

Authorities have arrested three out of four suspected intruders: two 16-year-old minors and one 21-year-old, who were taken to police custody in Versailles. The suspects were found in possession of stolen items taken from the house. Police also discovered a knife at the scene. A police officer sustained a knee injury during the arrest.

Other burglary incidents targeting footballers

Since 2020, there has been a surge in incidents involving gangs and burglars targeting footballers across Europe. Among them, a series of PSG stars were targeted in Paris in 2021.

Most recently, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma sustained minor injuries in a burglary in July, with stolen goods valued at around €500,000 (£432,937).

A source close to PSG, who chose not to be identified, mentioned that all big clubs are vulnerable to such attacks. Despite that, every criminal involved in previous attacks on PSG players has been captured.

PSG footballers were not the sole targets. Last September, burglars broke into the Cheshire residence of former Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, where he was with his fiancée Perrie Edwards and their child. Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling’s Surrey home was raided by burglars in December, causing him to fly home and miss the Qatar World Cup.

Just last month, thieves broke into former Manchester United star Chris Smalling’s home in Rome. According to reports, they attempted to snatch a safe after smashing a window.

Earlier this month, armed burglars also invaded the luxurious Essex residence of West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma while he was with his family, seizing valuables worth approximately £100,000.

The surge of wealth in contemporary football is evident. For example, Premier League players earn an average salary of €3.5 million (€3.02 million), contrasting starkly with the average wage in England at €45,000 (£38,951).

Hence, footballers become targets for thieves, who exploit their public schedules. These incidents predominantly involve robberies focused on stealing cash, jewelry, watches, and valuable items.

It is consequently paramount for footballers and other high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to reside in homes equipped with robust security measures and personnel. Engaging the help of security firms like Marengo can be crucial to fortify your home’s security.

Aside from providing you with a customised security plan, they can also deploy security personnel and close protection officers (CPOs) to keep you and your loved ones safe at home.