Veron family in machete raid terror
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Veron family in machete raid terror
Veron family in machete raid terror
By Chris Boffey
(Filed: 13/01/2004)
The Chelsea football star Juan Sebastian Veron and his family were threatened in their own home by a robber wielding a machete.
Veron, 28, who earns more than £4 million a year, was warned that one of his two children would be "scarred" unless he handed over all the valuables at his detached home in Barnes, west London.
The Argentinian international was asleep with his girlfriend Maria Vinaccia when the robber burst into their bedroom and held the machete above their throats.
The raider's shouted demands for Veron and Miss Vinaccia to hand over cash and jewellery woke one of their young children who wandered into the room.
The robber grabbed the toddler and told Veron the child would be "scarred for life" if they did not co-operate.
The couple scrambled together a bag full of cash rings, watches, bracelets and necklaces worth more than £60,000. Then they and two other women who were staying in the house were herded into a bathroom and ordered to stay there.
The terrified group waited until they heard a vehicle being driven away before Veron raised the alarm.
Veron said last night: "We have had a little bit of a scare but no one is injured and life goes on. I would like to express my thanks to the police on behalf of my family and our friends for their very swift response to our call for help. Both the police and our neighbours have been very supportive since the incident."
A man was charged yesterday with aggravated burglary and appeared at Richmond magistrates' court. He was remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
Veron is the latest football personality to have been robbed in recent months.
"Soccer stars and managers are the new rich," said a police national intelligence officer. They earn massive salaries and live in nice areas and they have become the obvious targets for burglars."
The most high-profile case involved an alleged kidnap attempt at the Hertfordshire home of David Beckham and and his wife Victoria, who now spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on security.
Robbie Fowler, who plays for Manchester City, was robbed at his Yorkshire home when he played for Leeds, and Sir Bobby Robson, manager of Newcastle United, was a victim of a break-in at his home in Suffolk last year.
However, the burglar who broke into the detached home of Duncan Ferguson, the Everton striker, picked the wrong victim. Carl Bishop, 37, lost three front teeth and suffered a cracked jaw and black eye when Ferguson - six foot three and 14 stone - found him in his home near Formby, on Merseyside. Bishop was later jailed for four years.
By Chris Boffey
(Filed: 13/01/2004)
The Chelsea football star Juan Sebastian Veron and his family were threatened in their own home by a robber wielding a machete.
Veron, 28, who earns more than £4 million a year, was warned that one of his two children would be "scarred" unless he handed over all the valuables at his detached home in Barnes, west London.
The Argentinian international was asleep with his girlfriend Maria Vinaccia when the robber burst into their bedroom and held the machete above their throats.
The raider's shouted demands for Veron and Miss Vinaccia to hand over cash and jewellery woke one of their young children who wandered into the room.
The robber grabbed the toddler and told Veron the child would be "scarred for life" if they did not co-operate.
The couple scrambled together a bag full of cash rings, watches, bracelets and necklaces worth more than £60,000. Then they and two other women who were staying in the house were herded into a bathroom and ordered to stay there.
The terrified group waited until they heard a vehicle being driven away before Veron raised the alarm.
Veron said last night: "We have had a little bit of a scare but no one is injured and life goes on. I would like to express my thanks to the police on behalf of my family and our friends for their very swift response to our call for help. Both the police and our neighbours have been very supportive since the incident."
A man was charged yesterday with aggravated burglary and appeared at Richmond magistrates' court. He was remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
Veron is the latest football personality to have been robbed in recent months.
"Soccer stars and managers are the new rich," said a police national intelligence officer. They earn massive salaries and live in nice areas and they have become the obvious targets for burglars."
The most high-profile case involved an alleged kidnap attempt at the Hertfordshire home of David Beckham and and his wife Victoria, who now spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on security.
Robbie Fowler, who plays for Manchester City, was robbed at his Yorkshire home when he played for Leeds, and Sir Bobby Robson, manager of Newcastle United, was a victim of a break-in at his home in Suffolk last year.
However, the burglar who broke into the detached home of Duncan Ferguson, the Everton striker, picked the wrong victim. Carl Bishop, 37, lost three front teeth and suffered a cracked jaw and black eye when Ferguson - six foot three and 14 stone - found him in his home near Formby, on Merseyside. Bishop was later jailed for four years.
However, the burglar who broke into the detached home of Duncan Ferguson, the Everton striker, picked the wrong victim. Carl Bishop, 37, lost three front teeth and suffered a cracked jaw and black eye when Ferguson - six foot three and 14 stone - found him in his home near Formby, on Merseyside. Bishop was later jailed for four years.
