31 January 2023 , 18:57
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On what was supposed to be a day celebrating Australia's diverse roots and sense of community, two of the nation's greatest sporting icons teamed up in the most bizarre fashion.
That's after tennis icon Margaret Court could only watch on as her Perth home was reportedly burgled while she was on holiday celebrating Australia Day last Thursday (Jan. 26). Two people allegedly attempted to make off with racquets and medals from Court's glittering career while she and her husband, Barrymore, watched the chaos unfold via the security system.
Luckily for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, however, a group of neighbours spotted what was happening. Among that number was former Australia Test cricket star and coach Justin Langer, according to the Daily Mail.
Western Australia police confirmed the incident after two men were arrested. “Perth detectives have charged two men in relation to an aggravated home burglary,” a spokesperson said. “It will be alleged about 8pm, two men gained access to the premises via the front entrance door.
“Once inside, it will be further alleged the accused rummaged through the victim’s property and stole a number of items including awards, medals and jewellery. A number of the items were located in nearby bushland and gardens.”
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According to reports two men from Edgewater, aged 33 and 34, had been taken into custody and have been charged with one count of aggravated home burglary and one count of stealing.
"It's never comfortable, it's not nice," Court—who was ordained as a Pentecostal minister in 1991—told 9News of the ordeal. "I think I saw them right away on the little screen at the front door. Police got right onto it, they were awesome."
Margaret Court watched her home burglary live via her surveillance system (Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)The 80-year-old was pleased to learn all stolen items had been returned to her possession, with the exception of her husband's passport. And she even found it in her heart to spare some good will for the suspects.
"They were all returned, the police did a wonderful, wonderful job," she said. "All is good, all is fine, I pray for the young guys, I pray they come to know Christ."
Ex-Australia cricketer Justin Langer helped apprehend the burglarsLanger, 52, is one of the most celebrated run scorers in Australian cricket history, striking up a famous partnership with Matthew Hayden in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won both the T20 World Cup and The Ashes during his four-year spell as coach of the national team between 2018 and 2022 but resigned amid a wave of controversy.
Like Court, Langer is also a devout Christian and cared for his neighbour in a very literal sense.. However, Court's beliefs have also attracted scrutiny in recent years, particularly in relation to her views against gay marriage and the LGBTQ+ community, commenting in the past that trans children were 'of the devil.'