Joelinton's mansion was targeted by thieves last night whilst the Newcastle star was at St James' Park to watch his side lose to Manchester City.
The Brazilian is injured and sat on the sidelines before he was alerted by his phone to three burglars lurking inside his home. He quickly contacted police who attended the address in Ponteland, Northumberland, shortly after 7.30pm, but by the time they arrived the intruders had left.
Joelinton lives on a street nicknamed 'Millionaire's Row'. Its affluent residents include a host of footballers; Toon legend Alan Shearer used to have a mansion on the same street.
No one is understood to have been inside the property when the home invaders breached the mansion and no one has been arrested with enquiries into the raid at the 27-year-old's home ongoing.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Shortly before 7.30pm yesterday police received a call from a concerned homeowner who reported that three men were inside their home in Darras Hall. Thankfully the homeowner was not home but had received a security alert on their phone and immediately reported concerns to police.
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Another resident of Runnymede Road told the Mirror: "I came back from the match and the road was cordoned off. There was a lot of police activity around the place. It was not until later that I realised it was the home of Joelinton."
He added: "There have been reports of a number of burglaries in the area recently, but not on the homes of footballers. It does make you think about security. I am just glad his wife and children were not at home, that's the main thing."
Premier League stars have continued to see their homes raided, often when they are playing for their respective teams. Last month, Jack Grealish's family were home when burglars broke into his Cheshire mansion.
That area has proved to be a hotspot. In March 2022, Paul Pogba ’s home in Hale Barns was raided as he played a Manchester United home match in the Champions League. Months earlier, Victor Lindelof’s wife and two sons hid in a bathroom as their home was broken into while he played for United at Brentford.
In 2022, Operation Opal, a national UK intelligence unit which deals with serious organised acquisitive crime, reported on the rise in burglaries on footballers' homes.
England star Raheem Sterling had to return home from Qatar after burglars targeted his Surrey mansion. Opal’s lead officer, Supt Carl Williams, said that there had “definitely been an increase” in Premier League footballers being burgled in the last 10 years.
The raids included two unnamed England players whose homes were targeted while they played games at Euro 2022. Man Utd star Victor Lindelof fell victim to raiders.
His wife Maja and their two children locked themselves in a specially installed panic room as burglars ransacked their Manchester home.
Manchester City player Joao Cancelo was also targeted. The Portuguese international was attacked by a gang of robbers in front of his wife and baby daughter at their home, also in the Manchester suburbs.
A crew of burglars were caught on video breaking into the London home of England and Chelsea star Reece James. They dragged out a safe containing his Euro 2020 runners up medal and Champions league winners medal.