Jan Vertonghen’s family were held at knifepoint as four machete-wielding thugs broke into their home while he was on Champions League duty with Tottenham on Tuesday.
The Belgian defender was in Germany for the European clash with RB Leipzig – which Spurs lost – when the group of robbers burgled his home in north-west London.
Vertonghen’s wife Sophie De Vries and their two children, a boy and a girl, were inside their home when the four thugs broke into the property and demanded valuables and cash at around 8pm.
It is believed the men wielded knives and machetes at the young family during the terrifying incident this week.
(Image: jvertonghen/Instagram)
A source close to Tottenham told The Express : “Jan’s wife was obviously terrified and did as she was told. The group carried out a search and fled with electronic items.
“The police carried out a scene examination. Some officers did door-to-door checks to warn people and ask if anyone had seen anything.”
A spokesperson for Spurs added: “We have been supporting Jan and his family through this terribly traumatic time and we encourage anyone who has any information to come forward to help the police with their investigation.”
It is understood the family did not suffer any injuries during the incident and police are now on the hunt for the perpertrators.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to a residential address in NW3 at 7.49am on March 10 to a report of a burglary.
“It was reported four men wearing balaclavas, armed with knives, had forced entry to the property and stolen a number of items before leaving. Nobody was injured. There have been no arrests and inquiries continue.”
Vertonghen is the latest Premier League star to be targeted by criminals.
Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho’s London home was burgles in December, with thugs reportedly stealing valuables worth more than £500,000.
