How Tamara Ecclestone ‘gave £50m jewellery thieves perfect window of opportunity with holiday snaps and reality show’
SHE’S the F1 heiress who regularly shares Instagram snaps from her lavish holidays abroad and opened the doors of her sprawling London home to reality TV crews.
But by flaunting her life of luxury, Tamara Ecclestone could have given thieves the perfect “window of opportunity” to nab £50 million worth of gems from her mansion this weekend, experts say.
Mum-of-one Tamara, 35, shared a picture of her five-year-old daughter Sophia boarding a private jet for their Christmas holiday getaway just hours before the “devastating” jewellery raid.
And security pros have suggested that the snap – combined with Tamara’s 2017 ITV documentary showing viewers inside her posh pad – could have helped thieves to swipe the haul of gems.
Tamara’s two key mistakes
“Any time you post on social media that you’re going on holiday, you’re advertising to the world you’re going to be away from your home,” expert Ray Walsh, of ProPrivacy, tells Sun Online.
“Tamara had already revealed details about her home on the reality TV show Tamara’s World. The combination of the two appears to have culminated in the worst possible outcome for her.”
It isn’t the first time Tamara has shared pictures from abroad – in October, she posted an image of herself, her husband Jay Rutland and little Sophia celebrating Halloween at Disney World, Florida.
Soon after, she shared another snap from the beach, writing: “Good morning from Florida.”
Holiday snaps ‘creating opportunity’
Yet Ray tells us that by posting images while she’s still on holiday, Tamara is giving criminals “a window of opportunity to steal her expensive jewellery” – like the burglars did on Friday night.
“Tamara’s home being burgled is a perfect example of why people need to be careful what they share,” he says, adding: “While the temptation to show off about going on holiday might be appealing to some people, the fact is people don’t need to know that.”
But in the Instagram age it isn’t just the rich and famous who post their holidays and houses online – it’s a trap many of us fall into.
Security expert James Rooke, of A J Rooke Ltd, agrees, saying: “It’s a silly thing to do full stop.
“I personally wouldn’t do it… especially [for] people like Tamara who do have a lot of money and stuff lying around.”
Inside job?
Tamara, Jay and Sophia had jetted off for Lapland just hours before three raiders are believed to have broken into the £70 million, 57-room mansion and fled with the gems.
The gang evaded both the 24-hour security teams that patrol the street in Kensington, west London, known as “Billionaire Row” and Tamara’s own internal security operations.
Although circumstances surrounding the raid remain unclear, Tamara’s dad, former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, has claimed it was an inside job, “given all the security at the house”.
And Ray admits of the high security: “That does create a lot of suspicion around the people doing the actual protection of the home. I’d be suspicious if my jewellery went missing.”
Reality show ‘free info for thieves’
But outsiders could have had ‘inside knowledge’ of Tamara’s home too, experts warn – after she flung open the property’s doors for her ITVBe reality show Tamara’s World.
The programme flaunts Tamara’s envy-inducing belongings – from her numerous Hermes Birkin bags, vast walk-in wardrobe and giant dog house to her golden bath tub.
Yet it also contains potentially valuable information for thieves.
“Even from just a picture of a window, thieves can see whether you have got security devices in your house – they will get an idea of what it’s like,” James tells us.
“People who commit burglaries are professionals. That’s giving them free information.”
Family a target of gem theft
By Stephen Moyes
THE Ecclestone family has previously been embroiled in gem raid dramas.
Tamara’s former brother- in-law James Stunt claimed he was the victim of a £90million burglary at his home in Belgravia, South West London.
Stunt who is now divorced from Petra Ecclestone, told cops in 2017 that jewellery, cash, gold and watches were swiped.
But police closed the investigation months later with no arrests made.
Back in November 2010, Tamara and Petra’s dad Bernie was mugged for his jewellery, worth £200,000, in front of his Brazilian girlfriend Fabiana Flosi.
Three men waited outside his home in Knightsbridge, central London, and kicked and punched him — leaving him with a horrific black eye.
Ray explains that burglars could use such footage to ‘scout out’ Tamara’s home – like they might do before a raid on a non-celebrity home – without the risks of a real-life visit.
“She’s created a similar scenario where people know something about her home,” he says.
‘Tempting’ would-be burglars
“If they know what’s in your home and they know how to get into your home, when you advertise you’re going on holiday you may open yourself up to being burgled.”
And he warns of another danger too: aside from “advertising the potential for burglary, someone could get an idea from the show that they may want to commit a burglary”.
Of course, the trio who invaded Tamara’s home on Friday were almost certainly professionals, as they not only broke into the high-profile property but also fled with gems from safes.
It is thought they broke in through the garden, before heading to the bedroom.
The gang were eventually disturbed by a security guard – but are said to have bundled out an open window with items including precious rings, earrings and an £80,000 Cartier bangle wedding gift.
Neighbours’ shock at raid
A neighbourhood source told The Sun last night: “This is the most shocking burglary because it is one of the most secure houses in London on one of the most secure streets in London.”
The source added that there was a guard working in the mansion’s security room at the time of the terrifying incident, but that “every single piece of jewellery” in Tamara’s safe was stolen.
Mr Ecclestone, who is in London, told the Sun Online today: “I don’t have all the facts but given all the security at the house, I’m assuming it was an inside job.
“The police should be able to work it out shouldn’t they?”
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While police have asked anyone with information on the Palace Green raid to come forward, Tamara has refused to let the burglary ruin her little girl’s dream trip to Lapland.
She took Sophia on a husky ride over the weekend, with the pair and Jay seen frolicking in the snow.
But Ray has a stark warning for the socialite for any future family getaways: “Don’t advertise the fact you’re going on holiday until you get back.”