Man City star Jack Grealish and his girlfriend moved into his Cheshire mansion just days before it was raided by burglars, MailOnline can reveal.
Neighbours said the celebrity couple began living in the sprawling home on December 23 or Christmas Eve. It was burgled on Wednesday night.
They said Grealish was worried about burglaries and had spent £500,000 on security fencing for the 24-acre estate.
Other shocked neighbours said they heard Grealish’s panic alarm sound for 20 minutes after the 9.50pm raid before hearing a police helicopter.
One said: ‘It’s a real shame as he’s only just moved in on Christmas Eve or the day before. He’d spent £500,000 on security fencing but that clearly hasn’t done the trick.’
This appears to be the moment Manchester City star Jack Grealish was told about the terrifying raid on his home
Grealish’s fiancée Sasha Attwood was among 10 relatives inside the house at the time. Pictured: Jack and Sasha on the pitch after Manchester City’s Champions League success
Grealish and Sasha pictured at the UEFA Champions League final in June
Neighbour Thomas Simpson, 71, said: ‘It’s a shock and he only moved in just a few days ago.
‘The last few months there has been a lot of work going on with more than 30 work vans parked down the lane, so we knew he was coming.’
A third neighbour said: ‘I heard the alarm go off for 20 minutes and then the sound of a police helicopter.
‘The police seem to have contracted on a back entrance so that is where they must have got in.
‘It’s a real shock as they seem like a lovely couple.’
Former Liverpool and England star Jordan Henderson owns a property close by.
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander Arnold and former Man Utd captain Steve Bruce are also neighbours.
City boss Pep Guardiola made his first comment on the raid today, saying: ‘The family was inside, it is what it is today, modern days, with many things happening.
‘It was a bad moment for him and his family but fortunately the family was not hurt.’
Footage has emerged of the moment Grealish was apparently informed of the burglary after City beat Everton 3-1 on Wednesday.
It shows City’s head of player support and protocol Manel Estiarte rushing onto the pitch and pulling Grealish to one side before having a private conversation.
Man City’s head of player support and protocol Manel Estiarte drags Grealish away to have a conversation with him
Estiarte potentially informs Grealish about the raid on his home while he has been playing
Grealish was shaking hands with City team-mates and Everton players at the end of City’s 3-1 win when Estiarte intercepted him
Grealish’s expression quickly changes as the situation is likely explained to him by Estiarte before he heads straight to the dressing room.
It is thought 10 relatives – including Grealish’s fiancée Sasha Attwood, parents, two sisters and brother – were watching the match before being alerted by barking dogs and noises upstairs.
The family were forced to run and hide for cover.
Police, fearing they could face a potential hostage situation, rushed to the scene and even had a helicopter search the area, but the offenders were able to escape with £1m worth of jewellery.
A source told the Sun: ‘The family are really shaken. The gang took a lot of watches and jewellery.
‘They executed their raid when Manchester City were playing live on TV and all his family had gathered downstairs to cheer him on.
‘No one was injured but there was a lot of panic. Everyone was terrified as they were all so vulnerable.
‘It’s an enormous property, so it is understandable why no one heard anything at first. It was also the first time the family had visited so they were unfamiliar with the property.
‘When the dogs went mad, and they could hear people creeping about, they pressed the security panic alarm’.
On Thursday morning Grealish was seen looking at the paths around the property, which had a new security fence installed shortly after he moved in this year.
The seven-bedroom mansion is set in 24 acres of land, and contains a helipad, tennis court, full-sized football and cricket pitches, and a lake.
The England star looks concerned as he rushes away down the tunnel at Goodison Park
Grealish’s childhood sweetheart Sasha (pictured with him) and his family were watching him on the television when the burglary took place
A van belonging to a private security firm was also seen outside the house on Thursday, while police officers were spotted leaving the property and knocking on the doors of neighbours.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: ‘At around 9.50pm on Wednesday December 27 police were called to reports of a burglary.
‘The caller reported that a number of items had been stolen.
‘Officers supported by police dogs and National Police Air Service were deployed and searches were conducted in the local area but there was no trace of the suspects.
‘No arrests have been made at this time and enquiries are ongoing.
‘Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 1722738.’
