04 December 2023 , 15:52
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West Ham captain Kurt Zouma and his young family were left terrified on Saturday night when burglars broke into their home and took £100,000 worth of cash and jewellery.
Defender Zouma missed West Ham's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the club not providing a reason for his absence, stating only that it was to do with 'personal reasons'. West Ham have now offered a £25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Raiders are said to have broken into the 29-year-old's home on Saturday night while the French international was present with wife Sandra, who recently gave birth to the couple's fourth child. Police have now issued a warning to the couple's neighbours about the organised gang.
West Ham are now helping both the authorities and the Zouma family, and on Monday said: "West Ham United has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of burglars who broke into defender Kurt Zouma’s home on the eve of the Club’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend.
“Kurt’s home was broken into on Saturday while all his family were in the house, leaving everyone present extremely distressed. While thankfully no one was harmed, it was a traumatic experience for the West Ham United defender, his wife and their young family.
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Zouma missed West Ham's clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday (REX/Shutterstock)“The burglars took items of significant value and of huge personal and sentimental importance to the family. The West Ham United family continue to offer Kurt’s family their full support.”
West Ham face Tottenham in the Premier League on Thursday night, although it isn't clear whether or not Zouma will return to the squad for the match in north London.
A source said: “This was an extremely worrying attack and left Kurt and his family traumatised. They were an aggressive and organised gang – and the house was completely ransacked.
“Kurt and the family were put through an horrific ordeal, and are still struggling to speak about what happened. Everyone at the club immediately knew it was incredibly serious – as he would not have missed a game otherwise.
“But the raid is why he was not available on Sunday. It is a terrible thing to have happened – and everyone at the club is offering him their full support.
“The player’s family are too scared to stay at the house – and have already talked of needing to move. Kurt is a family man and in shock. He is worried about protecting his family.”