West Ham United has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of the individuals responsible for burgling the residence of footballer Kurt Zouma. 

The French defender was spending time with his wife and children on Saturday evening when armed burglars broke into their luxurious Essex residence. The group took a trove of precious belongings valued at around £100,000. Among the stolen items were cherished jewellery, cash, and a collection of high-end watches. 

“West Ham United has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of burglars who broke into defender Kurt Zouma’s home on the eve of the Club’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend,” a club statement read.

According to a spokesperson, Essex Police were alerted to a burglary in west Essex shortly after 11.50 PM on Saturday, December 2. Upon their arrival, they learned that suspects had gained entry to a property and taken items, including jewellery and watches. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. 

A source told The Sun that the burglars were “an aggressive and organised gang.” The Zouma family is still struggling to cope with the incident and is too scared to speak up about the whole ordeal.

“To have someone break into your home is a terrifying experience and I hope this reward will help bring the individuals to justice and prevent others from going through a similar ordeal,” said Hammers joint-chairman David Sullivan.

In the lead-up to their London derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday, West Ham announced Zouma’s absence due to “personal reasons.” They maintained discretion regarding the specific cause of his absence, as he remained home to provide support for his family. The details of the burglary only surfaced later.

Authorities are appealing for assistance from the public in their investigation of the burglary. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the police by dialling 101 and referencing incident number 42/214211/23.

Long line of high-profile burglary victims

The £30 million football star is the latest in a long line of footballers to be targeted by professional robbery gangs.

In December 2021, Manchester City defender João Cancelo became a victim of a burglary raid while he was with his family in his Hale home. Cancelo confronted the four intruders, leaving him with injuries. 

One month later, Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof’s residence in Hale was also attacked. His frightened wife, Maja, secured herself and their two young sons in a bathroom while intruders burgled their home. In the same month, his former teammate Jesse Lingard was also robbed of over £100,000 worth of clothes and jewellery from his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester.

In March 2022, Paul Pogba’s residence in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, was burgled while he played for Manchester United in a home Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid. 

The most recent cases happened in September and December of 2022. In September, then-Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was at his Cheshire home with his fiancée Perrie Edwards and their young son when burglars broke in. 

Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling’s home was the next target in December. He had to fly home and missed the Qatar World Cup after his Surrey home was raided by burglars.

The burglaries of these prominent figures highlight the need for enhanced security measures for high-net-worth individuals. A reputable security firm like Marengo can provide patrolling security guards to safeguard the property, as well as close-protection services to ensure the personal safety of each family member residing within the residence.