Raheem Sterling, a famed English soccer player, is coming home from the 2022 World Cup after burglars broke into his house while he was at the major soccer tournament in Qatar.
Surrey Police said Monday that they are looking into a report of a burglary at a property in Oxshott, Leatherhead after the residents arrived from a vacation abroad, according to CNN.
Sterling Was 'Shaken' by Burglary That Took $316,000
On Saturday evening, before 9 o'clock, they called the police to report several pieces of jewelry and watches missing. Police officers went to the residence later that evening and came again this morning to talk to the people who dwell there, according to authorities.
"At this time it remains unclear on which date the property was stolen and establishing this forms a key part of our investigation," the police said in a statement. Officers will also investigate all available information, including "any CCTV opportunities."
Conflicting information provided to the media outlet earlier on Monday by a source with knowledge of the incident, the football star's family was inside the house when the armed burglars penetrated.
However, Surrey Police said that "no witnesses have come forward to this effect" and there were no reported "threats of violence" during the incident at Sterling's residence.
After the break-in, Sterling is reportedly "shaken" and worried for the safety of his family. Paige Milian, 27, Sterling's partner, shared photos on a cruise liner in Doha before last month's Iran game, although she was in the United Kingdom during the incident, according to Daily Mail.
Raheem Sterling, one of Gareth Southgate's top consistent performers at big tournaments, was absent from the round of 16 match due to a "family matter," as noted in a statement issued 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Players weren't informed of his exclusion and the unfortunate circumstances until the squad meeting before heading for Al Bayt Stadium.
Southgate said the winger would return to the UK by plane, although Raheem Sterling did not specify when he would arrive. A member of the family informed The Sun that they believe over $366,130 worth of watches were taken in the burglary.
MailOnline was informed by locals that security was doing late-night patrols and that police were on the premises investigating the burglary incident.
England Expresses Support
In 2018, Raheem Sterling, a father of three, played for Manchester City and resided in Cheshire, where he was a frequent target of thieves. However, the gang fled empty-handed after being frightened off by an alert.
England manager Gareth Southgate stated after the game that he was unsure whether Sterling would return to Qatar in time for Saturday's encounter against France.
Southgate noted that they have to "wait and see" as Sterling needs to be with his loved ones. He added that the team will respect Raheem Sterling's decision and give the star player the support he needs in this challenging period in his life.
"I honestly don't know because at the moment...It's a situation that he needs time with his family to deal with. I don't want to put him under any pressure with that," the team boss remarked, as per The Sun.
