A gang of criminals broke into the home of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the early hours of Monday morning. The Gabon international was assaulted and robbed of valuables.
Football has now become the target of criminals. Celebrities have always seemed shielded from the negatives in society, but the effects have started to hit them. With rising poverty and crime, the mega-rich football stars are seen as easy prey as criminals have made them their targets.
Recently, footballers have come under attack and have become victims of violent robbery. There are many cases of football celebrities either robbed, extorted or blackmailed for money. The massive sums they earn weekly plus the public display have put them in the spotlight.
There has been a need by some to justify robbing the rich. Footballers are rich. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the latest to come face to face with these criminals who are motivated by greed.
Aubameyang robbed in his home
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became the latest victim of a robbery attack when a gang armed with iron bars broke into his house on Monday and assaulted him and his family.
Barcelona officials confirmed the attack on the striker’s house. It calls for worry over a rising trend. Aubameyang was at home with his family during the robbery. He was handcuffed with his wife and tied up for a long time during the robbery. Sources at the club claim that neither the player nor his wife sustained serious injuries.
The robbery occurred in the early hours of Monday morning at his home. The Gabon international lives outside Barcelona in Castelldefels with his wife and two children.
Players who were victims of burglars
While Victor Lindelof was on duty for Manchester United in a Premier League game against Brentford, burglars were operating at his home. Robbers broke into his house, with his wife Maja and two kids on the premises.
Maja and the kids did not suffer any physical harm as she locked herself and the children in the room till the police came to their rescue.
Gabriel Magalhaes is another player that is a victim of robbers. The Arsenal defender came face to face with an intruder in his home. The Brazilian returned home from a night out with a friend to meet two masked men who requested his belongings as he parked his £45,000 Mercedes in his north London home. They threatened the Arsenal defender with a baseball bat in his garage.
Another victim of burglars is French midfielder Paul Pogba. The Juventus midfielder, who recently claimed extortion by a gang of criminals, was robbed while away from home.
The robbers operated in Pogba’s home while playing for Manchester United in their second leg Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.
The incident involving Aubameyang and his family is unfortunate. The Gabon international lives about 200 metres from properties owned by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Both players use private security firms to safeguard their homes.
Aubameyang, an unused substitute in Barca’s victory over Real Valladolid on Sunday, returned home to become a victim.
According to sources, the gang forced him to open his safe containing jewellery and other expensive items. Police say they are yet to catch the criminals.
Last week, Robert Lewandowski was also a victim. The Polish striker had his watch, worth €70,000, stolen from his car.
