FOOTIE ace Kurt Zouma was left terrified after armed raiders broke into his family home and escaped with £100,000 in cash and jewellery.
The gang ransacked the West Ham captain’s house after striking on Saturday night while he was at home with his young family.
The break-in led to Zouma, 29, missing his team’s 1-1 Prem draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday – and saw cops warning neighbours about the gang.
West Ham today revealed the club was offering a £25,000 reward for information leading to the gang’s capture.
Police raced to the detached £3million home – on an exclusive street where well-heeled neighbours hire private security – and stayed with the family for hours after Saturday night’s raid.
The robbers are understood to have escaped with jewellery including high-end watches.
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A source said: “This was an extremely worrying attack and left Kurt and his family traumatised.
“They were an aggressive and organised gang – and the house was completely ransacked.
“Kurt and the family were put through an horrific ordeal, and are still struggling to speak about what happened.
“Everyone at the club immediately knew it was incredibly serious – as he would not have missed a game otherwise.
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“But the raid is why he was not available on Sunday.
“It is a terrible thing to have happened – and everyone at the club is offering him their full support.
“The player’s family are too scared to stay at the house – and have already talked of needing to move.
“Kurt is a family man and in shock. He is worried about protecting his family.”
In the run-up to the club’s London derby against Palace on Sunday, West Ham said Zouma was unavailable for “personal reasons”.
They did not elaborate on why he was missing from the match – as he stayed away to comfort his family.
In a statement, the club said: “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.
“Kurt’s home was broken into on Saturday while all his family were in the house, leaving everyone present extremely distressed. While thankfully no one was harmed, it was a traumatic experience for the West Ham United defender, his wife and their young family.
“The burglars took items of significant value and of huge personal and sentimental importance to the family.
“The West Ham United family continue to offer Kurt’s family their full support.”
The French international is married to Sandra Zouma, who he first met when they were teenagers in Lyon.
They revealed in July that they had welcomed their fourth child together.
Last February, The Sun revealed how Zouma has been caught on video slapping and kicking his cat last February – leading to a prosecution.
The ex-Chelsea star later issued a grovelling apology for his actions.
How Zouma joins other football stars targeted by robbers
December, 2021: Man City defender Joao Cancelo shares a picture of his battered and bruised face after he confronted four raiders who targeted his home in Hale while he was there with his family
March 2022: Then-Man Utd star Paul Pogba’s home in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester is raided as he plays for the Red Devils in their home Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
January 2022: Swedish defender Victor Lindelof’s home in Hale is targeted as he is in action for Man Utd away at Brentford. His terrified wife Maja locked herself and two young sons in a bathroom as intruders raided their house.
January 2022: Ex -Man Utd star Jesse Lingard falls prey to ‘away day’ robbers who steal more than £100,000 of clothes and jewellery from his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester as he plays for the club at Aston Villa.
September 2022 – Then- Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was at his Cheshire home with Little Mix fiancée Perrie Edwards and their young son when burglars broke in
December 2022 – Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling jets home from the Qatar World Cup after raiders struck at his Surrey home.
The £30million star is the latest in a long line of footballers – including Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba and Joao Cancelo – to be targeted by professional robbery gangs.
West Ham’s Joint Chairman David Sullivan encouraged anyone with information relating to the identity of the burglars to come forward.
He said: “First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone connected to West Ham United are with Kurt and his family.
“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.”
Essex Police told The Sun: “We were called shortly after 11.50pm on Saturday 2 December to reports of a burglary in west Essex.
“It was reported suspects had gained entry to an address, before taking items including jewellery and watches.
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“Our investigation into this incident is continuing.”
Anyone who has any relevant information should email confidential@westhamunited.co.uk with as much detail as possible, which will then be shared with the police.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
