A legal expert has issued a warning to celebrities and influencers who regularly share glimpses of their homes online.
Heavily pregnant Michelle Keegan and her husband Mark Wright reportedly locked themselves in their bedroom last night when their £3.5million Essex mansion was targeted by masked raiders. The celebrity couple, who are expecting their first child together, are said to have heard their porch window smash before their alarm system went off at their lavish pad.
It is believed the Brassic star, 37, and radio presenter, 38, were inside their home when four suspects in balaclavas entered the property for close to a minute. Thankfully, the raiders fled the scene in a getaway car when they heard Mark yelling, and nobody was harmed in the horrific ordeal. But unfortunately, they aren't the only famous faces to fall victim to burglars.
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rosebanklandscaping.co.uk/ wrightyhome / Instagram)In the last year, many celebrities have been shaken by strangers in their homes. In November, Charlotte Crosby was heavily pregnant and at home with her two-year-old when masked thieves broke in. Her fiancé Jake Ankers said he tried to chase the four robbers, who were armed with a machete, out of the house but wasn't able to catch them.
In September, fellow Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry broke down in tears when she admitted to moving house because she didn't feel safe in her home anymore. At the beginning of last year, Love Island winner Davide Sanclimenti said there had been a burglary at his LA home, and actress Jacqueline Jossa also experienced armed intruders enter her holiday villa in August.
Now, a legal expert has warned celebrities and influencers that posting their homes and locations online could be making themselves an easy target for criminals. James Pipe, from freegrantsforfelons.org, told The Mirror: "It's understandable that people want to share their homes, renovations, and lifestyles with their followers, but criminals are watching too. Posting photos and videos can reveal more than you realise, things like security setups, expensive items, and even clues about when you're away."
He pointed out that real-time sharing is the biggest risk and said: "If you're on holiday and posting updates while your house is empty, you're basically putting up a 'no one's home' sign for burglars. Even little details like a unique window view or a designer bag in the background can give criminals all the information they need."
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Instagram/ Charlotte Crosby)So how much sharing is too much? James suggested a few simple precautions: "Try to avoid posting in real-time, especially if you're travelling. Be mindful of what's visible in your photos and check your privacy settings to limit who can see them. The less information you give away, the safer you'll be."
Many celebrities, like Mark and Michelle, have dedicated social media accounts for their homes, which can cause problems. The Essex couple purchased their property in 2019 for £1.3million and have since shared updates on their renovations with fans on @wrightyhome. Most recently, their account, which boasts almost 700,000 followers, gave a peek into the "mind-blowing" transformation of their spiral staircase. They also previously shared posts about their garden renovations, swimming pool addition, driveway changes, and more.
Their jaw-dropping home features a bar, a cinema room, a sauna and a gym, and a five-a-side football pitch. Detectives reportedly believe the raiders were professionals 'looking for a big score' on the five-bedroom mansion. An Essex Police spokesperson stated on Tuesday that its investigation into the burglary was ongoing. He said: "It was reported four suspects had forced entry to an address, carrying out a search of the property before fleeing. Within eight minutes, our officers were on the scene. We are continuing to support and safeguard the victims and are conducting high-visibility patrols in the area."
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