A painter and decorator has confessed to stealing three watches valued at £42,000 from Hugh Grosvenor, the godson of King Charles III and the godfather of Prince George.

The theft occurred when Matthew Turner, 24, hired for redecoration work at Eaton Hall in Cheshire, snuck into the Duke’s bedroom. The chamber was not part of the refurbishment project.

The Duke only discovered that the three prized timepieces – a £30,000 Cartier London Tank JC, a £6,000 later Luminor Marina and a £6,000 Breitling – had gone missing while searching for the Cartier to wear.

Arrest and trial

The burglary at the 10,872-acre estate occurred last August, but details of the theft only surfaced after two men were arrested and charged last Friday at Chester Magistrates Court.

Turner, from Great Sutton, pleaded guilty to burglary between August 7 and August 31, 2022, as well as to an unrelated theft of £60 from a tire shop. He is currently awaiting sentencing at Chester Crown Court. Meanwhile, Nathan Elliot, 30, from Whitby, Ellesmere Port, denied handling the stolen Cartier watch and is set to stand trial.

Turner has been released on bail pending the preparation of his background report. He will be sentenced after Elliott’s trial.

“The Crown say this is not suitable to be dealt with in this court. The charge is a domestic burglary. The value of goods from the burglary is £42,000, a significant amount,” Prosecutor Scott Woodward said.

Keeping an eye on temporary workers

This incident is a stark reminder for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-HNWIs (UHNWIs) to exercise heightened vigilance when employing temporary workers for home repairs or other jobs at their residences. Unlike permanent staff members, temporary workers have a limited tenure and may be more inclined to engage in opportunistic acts.

First, conduct thorough background checks on all temporary workers, including their employment history, criminal record and references. Personal recommendations from friends, family or neighbours can be valuable for finding reliable workers. Online platforms like Yelp, Angie’s List and Google Reviews also offer user-generated reviews that can provide insights into a worker’s quality of work and customer service. 

Then, define the scope of work and access restrictions for each temporary worker. Limit access to sensitive areas like bedrooms, home offices, or safes unless essential for their work. If necessary, implement a buddy system, requiring workers to operate in pairs or under supervision, particularly when handling valuables or working in private areas. 

As temporary workers enter your home, take precautions to safeguard your valuables. Lock away jewellery, medications, electronics, and purses. Consider hiding valuables in a home safe, a designated room, or secure drawers or closets. If necessary, create a detailed inventory of your belongings, especially your valuables.

With strangers on your property, always review security protocols and procedures regularly to ensure they are up-to-date and effective. Address any identified vulnerabilities or gaps in security measures. 

You can also consider hiring a security guard or concierge service from trusted security companies like Marengo to provide additional security and monitoring, especially if you cannot stay at the premises. Apart from offering security personnel, they can create tailored security plans to safeguard your property even during maintenance.