Wayne Rooney's £6million mansion targeted by a masked intruder 'armed with cable ties and gaffer tape' as star plays in testimonial match just miles away
- Masked intruder broke into Wayne Rooney's £6million Cheshire mansion
- Tried to raid sprawling home he shares with Coleen and their three boys
- Attempted burglary occurred while Man United star was at Old Trafford
- Raid was thwarted after Rooney's 'fortress-style' security alarms went off
- Neighbours: Police swooped on house like 'something out of an action film'
A masked intruder tried to break into Wayne Rooney's £6million mansion while he played in his testimonial match at Old Trafford just 18 miles away, it is alleged.
The Manchester United striker was taking part in the game against Everton on Wednesday night when the balaclava-clad raider stormed the Cheshire home he shares with wife Coleen and their three children - Kai, Klay and Kit.
The brazen wannabe-thief had presumably thought he could storm the property while the house was empty – with Coleen and the couple's young children all in the stands watching the 30-year-old England captain play.
However, his attempt was thwarted when he triggered Rooney's elaborate security system - prompting police to automatically race to the property.
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Wayne Rooney , 30, was playing his testimonial match at Old Trafford on Wednesday when a masked intruder tried to break into his £6million mansion in a Cheshire village (pictured)
The brazen wannabe-thief had presumably thought he could storm the property while the house was empty – with Coleen and the couple's children at Old Trafford. Pictured: The Manchester United player is pictured after his testimonial match with Kai, Klay and Kit
In scenes described as 'like something out of a film', police swooped on the intruder but he managed to flee their capture and instead ran off into a waiting getaway car.
During the commotion, the suspect dropped his rucksack – which was allegedly filled with gaffer tape and electrical ties.
According to The Sun, a source said: 'Who knows whether he thought there was a housekeeper inside who he may have intended to truss up?'
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One neighbour in the Cheshire village, described the moment police – including a force helicopter, three patrol cars and dog handlers – descended on the property.
They told the newspaper: 'It was like something out of a movie with alarms shrieking and search lights flashing on.
'The police seemed to appear from nowhere.
'They were swarming all over the place.'
Rooney, who was told about the attempted break-in immediately after the game at Old Trafford, was said to be 'deeply shocked' by the incident, which occurred between 8.30pm and 8.45pm. Pictured: The Rooney family are seen at the player's testimonial match this week
CCTV allegedly shows the balaclava-clad man holding an object while peering through the windows near the front door of the property.
His movements sparked the security alarm system, which caused lights and sirens to blare out.
Rooney, who was told about the attempted break-in immediately after the game at Old Trafford, was said to be 'deeply shocked' by the incident, which occurred between 8.30pm and 8.45pm.
Cheshire Police confirmed it is investigating the incident and officers are appealing for witnesses.
The intruder's attempt was thwarted when he triggered Rooney's elaborate security system - prompting police to automatically race to the property. Pictured: Wayne and Coleen last year
HOST OF OTHER TOP FOOTBALLERS WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN TARGETED
The attempted burglary at Wayne Rooney's home is the latest in a string of raids at properties owned by professional footballers.
Here are just some of those targeted by thieves in the last few years:
Tom Cleverley
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley and his young family were threatened with baseball bats in a £175,000 raid on his Manchester mansion by armed robbers.
The England international and his reality TV star wife Georgina Dorsett had designer handbags, watches and jewellery stolen, as well as two £50,000 Range Rovers, in the raid which occurred as they spent a night in with their two-year-old daughter.
Cleverley, 26, was unhurt but he and his wife, 29, were reportedly 'shaken' after thugs wielded baseball bats and an extendable baton at their £3.5million home.
The robbers reportedly stole a £15,000 Carter bracelet, a £10,000 Hermes Birkin handbag and an Audemars Piguet watch valued at £50,000 before taking the keys to two cars at the gated property during the raid last October.
Cleverley and his wife Georgina, pictured in 2015, were said to be 'shaken' by the burglary
Sam Johnstone
Sam Johnstone (pictured with his partner Bryony Turner) became the latest Manchester United player to be targeted by thieves when his home in Sale, Manchester, was robbed six weeks ago
Manchester United player Sam Johnstone's home was targeted by thieves just six weeks before Cleverley's.
The goalkeeper, 22, returned from his club's Champions League victory in Bruges last August to find his £40,000 Mercedes had been stolen.
Thieves smashed their way into Johnstone's house in Sale, Manchester, took the keys to his black A Class AMG and drove it away.
Police believe Johnstone was targeted by crooks who knew he would be away.
Angel Di Maria
Earlier last year, burglars used scaffolding poles in a bid to smash their way in to the home of Paris Saint-Germain footballer and former Manchester United star Angel Di Maria while he ate dinner with his family.
A gang of three armed thugs are reported to have used the metal poles in an attempt to break through patio doors at the Argentine's mansion in Cheshire.
The 26-year-old is said to have been eating dinner with his wife Jorgelina Cardoso and young daughter Mia when the terrifying raid unfolded. It is not known what, if anything was stolen during the raid but the family were left shocked by the ordeal.
They moved into a hotel and put the house on the market shortly after the break-in as Ms Cardoso reportedly became increasingly keen to leave Manchester. The midfielder left for PSG in the summer.
Peter Crouch
In 2011, the Cheshire home of Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy was targeted by burglars and a number of rings, a watch and a laptop stolen.
Burglars broke into the £4.5million Alderley Edge mansion – which was formerly owned by England cricketer Freddie Flintoff – before turning it upside down in the hunt for valuables.
It was not the first time Crouch had been targeted by burglars - he was raided in 2006 at his previous home in Alderley Edge. On that occasion raiders targeted the England striker as he played for his country in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Thieves trashed his house stealing football memorabilia, champagne and jewellery and his exclusive Aston Martin car worth a total of £200,000.
He was just one victim of a gang that repeatedly targeted the homes of Premiership footballers, including Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and Roque Santa Cruz, in the North West.
James Birch, 20, who raided six footballer's homes - timed his break-ins to coincide with football games when he knew players would not be at home - was jailed for two and a half years in 2006.
Peter Crouch's £4.5million mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was targeted by burglars in 2011. The raiders took a number of rings belonging to his wife Abbey Clancy as well as watch and a laptop computer
Phil Jagielka
Everton and England defender Phil Jagielka was robbed at knifepoint at his home near Knutsford, Cheshire, in 2009.
A gang of robbers burst into his luxury £2.5million mansion as he watched his team play Hull in the Carling Cup among friends.
The gang threatened Jagielka with a knife and demanded to know where he kept all his valuables.
They then ordered him to hand over the keys to his luxury Range Rover before ransacking the house and making off with jewellery. The footballer was described as 'shocked and upset' by the raid.
Darren Fletcher
In 2009, the home of West Bromwich Albion captain and former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was robbed just hours after he had flown to Italy.
His wife, Hayley Grice, was seized by a gang of thugs and had a knife held to her throat after the ruthless gang burst into their gated £2m mansion.
She was then dragged round the house by her hair, forced to hand over her £30,000 engagement before being left shocked and in tears. The raiders made off with around £100,000 worth of jewellery.
Emile Heskey
In 2008, the £1.65million home of Bolton striker Emile Heskey was targeted while he was out training with his then-club Wigan Athletic.
The England footballer's fiancée was threatened at knifepoint by a gang of robbers after the attackers smashed their way through the front door of his Cheshire mansion and confronted Chantelle Tagoe, the mother of his two young children.
The raiders then ransacked the couple's seven-bedroom house, stealing jewellery before taking the footballer's £40,000 BMW 4x4 and fleeing.
Steven Gerrard
The wife of England footballer Steven Gerrard was threatened by burglars who warned her they would 'take her kids' during a terrifying raid on their home in December 2007.
Alex Curran came face-to-face with the masked gang, who demanded she hand over jewellery and the contents of a safe during the break-in at their £3million mansion in Formby, Liverpool.
Alex Curran, the wife of England footballer Steven Gerrard, was threatened by burglars who warned her they would 'take her kids' during a terrifying raid on their £3million mansion in Formby, Liverpool, in 2007
The 27-year-old shouted at the men to leave and initially denied there was a safe in the house. But when one threatened to get a knife and take the couple's young daughters, then aged three and one, Miss Curran told them it was in a downstairs cupboard.
The gang 'dragged' a horrified Miss Curran to the safe and forced her to hand over the valuable silver Rolex watch she was wearing.
They escaped through patio doors which they had smashed to gain entry to the former Liverpool captain's home.
Details of the ordeal emerged after career criminal Martin Wilson, 22, admitted the burglary at Liverpool Crown Court. He was jailed for seven years and four months in 2010.
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