Chelsea footballer Raheem Sterling armed himself with a kitchen knife to defend his family when masked intruders broke into his Berkshire home on Saturday evening.
The 30-year-old forward confronted the burglars after ensuring his partner Paige Milian and their two young sons were safe.
Acting on instinct, Sterling grabbed the weapon from a kitchen block before heading upstairs to face the gang.
"He grabbed a knife out of a block in the kitchen and went to confront the intruders," a source told The Mirror. "It was acting on pure adrenaline but it worked."
Raheem Sterling is currently frozen out of the squad at Chelsea
| PAThe masked group fled the property without taking any valuables after realising Sterling was present.
The break-in occurred between 6:30pm and 7pm, approximately an hour before Chelsea's 8pm kick-off against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Police believe the criminals assumed Sterling would be at Stamford Bridge for the match.
Sterling's partner Paige Milian and their sons Thiago, eight, and Thai Cruz, six, were all present during the terrifying ordeal. The footballer ensured their safety before confronting the intruders upstairs.
"There was a group of them upstairs in masks and they were obviously looking around for any valuables yet again. But this time they made off when they realised that Raheem was at home and he confronted them," the source revealed.
The gang fled empty-handed after Sterling's brave intervention.
England footballer Raheem Sterling has been a victim of a second break-in | PAThis marks the third occasion in seven years that Sterling has been targeted by criminals.
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the footballer was forced to leave England's squad after burglars raided his Cobham home whilst his family were inside, stealing jewellery and watches valued at approximately £300,000.
Emiliano Krosi, 24, was subsequently convicted on 33 counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.
Investigators determined that items worth roughly £1,139,000 were stolen between October 2022 and March 2023.
Surrey Police revealed Krosi maintained a detailed checklist for selecting target properties.
The footballer's previous residence in Goostrey, Cheshire, was also targeted by thieves in 2018, though they fled after triggering the alarm system.
Sterling's spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: "We can confirm that Raheem Sterling was the victim of a home break-in this weekend. We can also confirm that he and his children were present at home at the time."
The spokesperson added: "Whilst the ultimate violation of privacy and safety, we are thankful to be able to confirm that he and his loved ones are all safe. We ask that the privacy of Raheem and his loved ones be respected at this challenging time."
Thames Valley Police are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the break-in. Officers have appealed for witnesses who may have noticed suspicious activity in the area to come forward.
Chelsea have been informed of the incident and are providing support to their player.