EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa in Spanish holiday robbery as masked raiders steal engagement ring & £20k of belongings
EASTENDERS star Jacqueline Jossa had £20,000 of jewellery and cash stolen by burglars as she and her children slept in their holiday villa.
The terrified actress, 31, woke to see two masked raiders shining torches in rooms early yesterday.
They fled with valuables including her engagement diamond ring, a gift from hubby of seven years Dan Osborne.
Electrical goods and designer clothes were taken in Marbella, with cash lifted from one of the children’s backpacks.
A source said: “Jacqueline and Dan are really shaken.
“She raised the alarm after seeing a torch and was faced with two men in balaclavas.
“Both men fled after they saw her. It is terrifying to think what could have happened if the kids had woken and seen the men in their bedroom.
“Jacqueline and Dan feel lucky it wasn’t worse.”
Spanish police are probing the raid at the family’s rented villa in the popular resort.
Jacqueline, who plays Lauren Branning in the BBC1 soap, and reality star Dan have been in Spain for a fortnight with their extended families and daughters, Ella, nine, Mia, five, plus Dan’s ten-year-old son, Teddy.
The family have been photographed on the beach, playing in the water with their children, and Jaqueline has shared photographs of their break on social media.
A friend added: “The villa has good security and Jacqueline and Dan have got CCTV.
“They think it took about ten minutes for the burglars to break in. It’s possible the men were in the property for 15 minutes.
“Jacqueline said it was totally silent. It was only when a flash of a torch woke her up did they realise something had happened.
“After going through everything they realised the raiders stole £20,000 of belongings, including Jacqueline’s engagement ring and some of her handbags.
“They even took cash from one of the kids’ backpacks. It’s disgusting.
“Jacqueline and Dan have kept calm and put on brave faces for the kids’ sake.
“They’ve not told them what happened.
After going through everything they realised the raiders stole £20,000 of belongings, including Jacqueline’s engagement ring and some of her handbags
A friend
“The last thing they want is for them to feel scared.
“They’re focusing on the memories they made on the holiday as a family before the robbery.
“Jacqueline and Dan have both been speaking to the police.
“They don’t want another family to go through what they have.”
The Essex-based couple married in June 2017.
Jacqueline took a break from filming EastEnders to enjoy the summer holidays with her two girls and Teddy before they return to school.
She returned to the BBC1 soap last October following five-year break.
Her character Lauren made an explosive comeback to confront back-from-the-dead Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
Dan is a former star of Towie and in 2018 was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother, finishing third.
His son Teddy is from an earlier relationship.
GANGS TARGET CELEBS
JACQUELINE and Dan are the latest stars to be targeted on holiday — with Spanish police claiming a gang of ex-military men are behind many raids.
The Sun told last week how DJ Nick Grimshaw had his villa ransacked as he, his mum and guests slept.
The star had rented the Ibiza pad for his 40th birthday and was said to be shocked and upset by the raid.
Earlier this summer, Italian footballer Cristiano Piccini had his luxury watch stolen by motorbike muggers in Ibiza.
Argentina tennis star Federico Coria had valuables including his rackets, laptop and engagement ring taken from him in Barcelona.
In April I’m A Celeb’s Snoochie Shy was mugged for her handbag in Ibiza.
Police have arrested six ex-military men from Eastern Europe and say they carried out 71 thefts, mostly in Marbella.
They claim the group was trained to access any property and to act quickly and efficiently.