Fears Jack Grealish could have been targeted by gang of seven criminals with ‘forced entry bailiff experience’ in £1m Boxing Day raid on his Cheshire mansion while Man City star’s family were at home

Jack Grealish's £5.6 million mansion in Cheshire may have been targeted by a gang of seven locally based criminals who have experience with bailiffs among their crews, it has been claimed.

The England and Manchester City star had up to £1 million worth of jewelery and watches stolen in a raid on Boxing Day while his family watched him play against Everton on TV in an away match.

Police are currently investigating who could be responsible for the incident – which the 28-year-old said in a statement released on New Year's Eve left him 'devastated'. But sources say he is not giving up on his dream home.

As we previously revealed, a South American gang believed to be targeting high-value targets has been linked to the raid.

But another crime victim in the upmarket area where Grealish lives has revealed police previously told him a gang of local criminals could also be behind the burglaries.

Writing in the Knutsford Guardian the resident, called Simon C, said: 'I don't know anything about an alleged South American tourist gang that has been reported by some other media.

'But our property and three others were targeted in aggressive burglary attacks in one evening in the north of Wirral at the start of the Covid lockdown, within 2 to 3 miles of each other.

'I was told by Merseyside Police that a professional gang from Cheshire, involving seven members, could be behind this, also with experience as bailiffs.'

The claim comes after we revealed Grealish's fiancée was left 'terrified' by the Boxing Day raid – and no longer feels safe on her own in the property.

Sasha Attwood was with Grealish's family on December 26 when burglars struck and stole up to £1 million worth of jewelery and watches.

Grealish released a statement five days later thanking fans and his club for the support they had shown in the aftermath.

He wrote: 'My family means the world to me and nothing is more important than ensuring their safety. This has been a traumatic experience for all of us. I'm so thankful no one was hurt.

'I've had so many great experiences and achievements over the past 12 months, but to be honest, the best year of my life in football doesn't feel like something to celebrate right now.

'The people who commit these terrible crimes have no idea of ​​the damage they do to people's lives. I hope they are found and brought to justice so that no other family has to go through what we have.

“I appreciate everyone's messages and the support from my friends, teammates and the club.”

As police continue to investigate the raid, the full impact of what happened is starting to sink in for model and influencer Sasha, 28.

Our source said: 'Sasha is in pieces over this. Sasha has faced death threats and online abuse time and time again during her time with Jack. But this feels very different.

'The fact that people are entering her new home this way has terrified her. She hasn't been alone since it happened and she doesn't want to anymore.

'Jack is particularly angry about the impact this has had on Sasha. They have been together for almost half his life and he loves her dearly.

'He will now do anything to protect her. They have their dream house, but it means nothing if she's not happy and Jack wants her to feel as safe in it as possible.'

Details of the fear Sasha is feeling come as police continue to investigate the Boxing Day incident.

Officers are under intense pressure to find out who is responsible as virtually no cases involving Premier League players are ultimately solved.

“Police want to know who did this,” a source told MailOnline.

'Time and again, burglars who target players at that moment seem to disappear from the face of the earth, with the stolen objects never being seen again.

“Detectives have told Jack and his management that they are determined this case will be different and that they will do everything they can to catch the gang behind it.”

Police continue to assess all possible leads to identify those responsible – including claims that those behind the raid may have already fled the country.

Detectives are also investigating whether the burglars followed moving vans coming to and from the house – and whether they may have had help from the inside.

A source said: 'Those moving workers could hold crucial clues. There is no indication that they were involved.

'But the police want to ask them about anything suspicious or strange they may have seen. As part of the investigation, they will be asked to provide a statement in the coming days.”

Grealish's home, which he moved into just days before the thieves struck, is in an area dubbed the 'Golden Triangle', which has been targeted repeatedly over the past three years by professional gangs from Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

Experts say if a foreign gang is responsible, they are likely to have flown to Britain specifically for the raid and may have already returned to South America.

Every year, around 500 burglars from these South American countries travel to Britain to target homes in Cheshire, the Home Counties, London and Surrey.

Grealish, 28, played in City's 3-1 away win against Everton during the burglary.

It is believed that ten family members – including Sasha – were watching the match before being alerted by dogs barking and noises.

Former Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'This looks and sounds like a gang from South America who have come here to burglarize. For starters, the area is exactly where they operate.”