Masked intruders believed to be wielding sledgehammers and heavy hammers forced their way into former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp’s Dorset property last Friday evening while the residence stood empty.
The alleged gang targeted the £5million home near Sandbanks, smashing through the front entrance to gain access.
Security cameras captured footage of the masked intruders searching through the detached, gated property for valuable items.
The 78-year-old former Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth manager was attending an event that evening, while his wife Sandra was in London at the time of the break-in.
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Harry Redknapp’s £5million Dorset home has been broken into
A source close to the situation confirmed the calculated nature of the crime, stating: “It was clearly organised. The raiders must have known the house was empty.”
The thieves allegedly made off with jewellery belonging to Sandra Redknapp along with other high-value items from the property.
It is believed that the intruders may have studied the home’s layout through online property listings, as the residence is currently on the market.
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GETTY | Harry Redknapp and Sandra Redknapp pictured back in 2015It follows a similar incident in May when burglars targeted the nearby home of television interior designer Celia Sawyer, which was also advertised for sale online.
A source suggested the perpetrators could have monitored the property before striking, saying: “The criminals would only have to keep watch on the property and break in once the coast was clear, knowing the full layout of the house in advance.”
The break-in occurred as Sandra Redknapp received medical treatment in hospital.
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During ITV Racing’s Thursday evening broadcast from Great Yarmouth Racecourse, presenter Matt Chapman revealed the 78-year-old was undergoing hospital care, though the specific medical condition remains undisclosed.
Chapman mentioned during commentary on Harry’s horse King of Bears: “So, King of Bears, just to say Harry Redknapp will be watching this horse from his hospital bed, but not his bed, his missus Sandra is just being treated in hospital at the moment.”
The timing places Sandra’s hospitalisation just one day before the Friday night burglary at their Dorset home.
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GETTY | Harry Redknapp and Sandra Redknapp have been married for 57 yearsThe Redknapps relocated to their current residence in 2021, having previously lived in a contemporary property with expansive windows facing Sandbanks beach that offered insufficient privacy.
The couple are now constructing a new waterfront villa in Sandbanks whilst their current home remains listed for sale.
The 2018 I’m A Celebrity champion is reportedly preparing to participate in the programme’s All Stars edition this autumn.
Regarding the burglary, Harry’s representative told The Sun: “Harry doesn’t want to make a fuss. There was no one in the house at the time and we don’t want to comment on what was taken. It’s a matter for the police.”
Dorset Police confirmed their investigation continues as they search for the thieves who targeted the property near Branksome Dene Beach in Poole.