Nottingham firm advises Premier League footballers on security

Reshma Sheikh

A Nottingham security industry expert is warning Premier League footballers that they need to up their game in the wake of a series of incidents that have seen several superstars targeted.

As the Premier League prepares to kick-off again following the coronavirus lockdown, Reshma Sheikh, managing director of Octavian UK, says that protecting footballers is equivalent to a business protecting its biggest and most valuable asset.

She said: “Footballers are easy targets for criminals due to their high-profile professions. They are targeted for cash and high value items such as watches and jewellery.”

“Social media and regular routines make it quite simple to work out when a footballer is away with a match or at home. Their fame and visibility in the area means their property are ‘open secrets’ and when using social media can make the mistake of tagging their property location or giving away hints, as to where they reside.”

Some recent incidents of footballers being targeted include:

· Dele Alli being robbed at knife-point at his home in North London

· Daniel Sturridge’s dog being stolen from his home in Los Angeles

· Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac chased by a moped gang, who tried to car-jack the German playmaker’s Mercedes G-Wagon in North London

· Sadio Mane. who was burgled when he was playing away against Bayern Munich at a Champions League match

· Phil Jagielka, who was robbed at knifepoint by a masked gang

Many top players are now using security firms to protect their property and families, says Sheikh. The cost of security varies from tens of thousands of pounds up to multi-million pounds.

David Beckham recently installed a 60 camera CCTV system along with a 24-hour manned security guard for his family’s Kensington home.

Sheikh added: “It all depends on the client’s needs, how much security they need, the size of their property, their location – when protecting your family, there is no limit.”

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