Chelsea have contacted Surrey Police over the disappearance of video equipment valued at £30,000 from their Cobham training facility.
The Club World Cup champions contacted authorities after discovering the high-tech camera gear was missing from their Surrey headquarters.
While it remains uncertain whether the equipment has simply been misplaced and might resurface when staff return from holidays, the circumstances were concerning enough to warrant police involvement.
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Elite football clubs rely heavily on video analysis from training sessions and matches to enhance players’ physical, technical, tactical and psychological development.
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|The London club have contacted Surrey Police over the disappearance of the equiment
The club has not disclosed when the equipment was discovered missing or the specific circumstances surrounding its disappearance, The Sun reports.
Should this prove to be a criminal act, it would add to a series of offences that have targeted the club in the affluent Surrey area.
Multiple Chelsea players have fallen victim to burglaries at their homes near the training ground in recent years.
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GETTY | Raheem Sterling was subject to a break-in while he was away with England for the 2022 World Cup
In December 2022, thieves targeted Raheem Sterling’s residence whilst he was representing England at the World Cup in Qatar, making off with designer watches worth £300,000.
The winger returned home from the tournament to be with his family before rejoining the squad in the Middle East.
Club captain Reece James condemned the “cowardly thieves” who raided his property in December 2021 whilst he was competing for Chelsea in the Champions League.
The intruders made off with a safe holding James’ Champions League winner’s medal, Euro 2020 runners-up medal and Super Cup winner’s medal.
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Writing on Instagram, James stated: “I want to let all of you know I am safe and well.”
He revealed that fortunately no one was present at his property during the break-in.
“A group of cowardly robbers broke into my house,” James wrote. “They managed to collectively lift a heavy safe containing some personal items of mine into their car.”
The defender emphasised: “These medals were won representing Chelsea and England – honours that can never be taken away from me whether or not I have the physical medals to prove it.”
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Getty | Reece. James has also been targeted during his time at the club
James appealed to supporters: “I am appealing to all my Chelsea and England fans to help identify and turn in these low-life individuals.”
The missing equipment incident comes as Chelsea navigate a particularly busy transfer period, with several players departing permanently.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall completed a £25million move to Everton. The 26-year-old midfielder joined Chelsea from Leicester City for £30million last year but made only two Premier League starts under Enzo Maresca.
Meanwhile, Lesley Ugochukwu, 21, was announced as a Burnley player on Wednesday evening, and Armando Broja, 23, is on the brink of joining him at Turf Moor.
Each deal is reportedly valued at around £20million, with both players agreeing to five-year contracts with Scott Parker’s team.
The club continues pursuing additional departures, including negotiations with Borussia Dortmund regarding Carney Chukwuemeka’s potential return to Germany, while incomings have stuttered in recent weeks.
Maresca’s side are said to be discussing with RB Leipzig for Xavi Simons, who is very keen on the move. The clubs are yet to come close to an agreement though.
Alejandro Garnacho has also been a longstanding target of Maresca, but formal talks are yet to commence.
The Blues did get a £35million deal for highly-rated Dutch defender Jorrel Hato over the line, however.