There are suspicions that a video tour of Ben Stokes’ home on an Indian streaming app, Fancode, may have aided burglars who entered the England cricket star’s home.
During a 16-minute clip, which Stokes proudly labelled ‘Ben Stokes takes us on a tour of his house!’, he inadvertently exposed vulnerable entryways and the dwellings of his cherished sports collectables, including areas like patio doors.
The footage was unavailable in the UK initially but then found its way onto social media platforms Instagram and YouTube. A collection of valuable pieces, among them Stokes’ OBE, a gold lion necklace, an illustrious gold pendant, and a ring emblazoned with the England cricket insignia were stolen while his wife and children were home.
Security specialists have suggested that such revealing footage is pure gold for career criminals. The ominous recording is expected to be pivotal in the ensuing police inquiry into the break-in, as detailed by reports from The Sun.
Christian Hill, who leads security firm Intelligent Protection, lamented the incident, remarking: “It’s a shame because these people should be able to share their experiences and what has made them and how they have achieved everything without anything bad happening. But sadly that is not the world we live in.”
Since 2017, Stokes, along with his wife Clare and their children Layton, 12, and Libby, 9, have resided in the County Durham mansion, for which they forked out £1.7 million. The Stokes family has since invested considerably in refurbishments to their home.
England’s star all-rounder was on tour in Pakistan when his home was targeted by thieves on October 17, while his family were inside.
Stokes urgently appealed for help via social media, stating: “On the evening of Thursday 17th October a number of masked people burgled my home in the Castle Eden area in the North East. They escaped with jewellery, other valuables and a good deal of personal items.”
He continued to express the personal impact of the burglary, saying: “Many of those items have real sentimental value for me and my family. They are irreplaceable.
“This is an appeal for any help in finding these people who carried out this act. By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and 2 young children were in the house.”
Stokes also praised the local support during this difficult time: “Both now and whilst I was away in Pakistan, their support for my family has been outstanding. They continue to work incredibly hard in trying to find these people.”