HEAVILY pregnant Michelle Keegan and her husband Mark Wright were subjected to a terrifying raid at their £3.5million mansion earlier this week.
A gang of four masked raiders got on to the countryside property’s extensive grounds in Essex just after 6pm on Tuesday.
It was reported four suspects had forced entry to the address[/caption]
Mark has been showing their pad progress on Instagram[/caption]
They were said to be wearing balaclavas and all dressed in black and detectives believe they were professionals looking for a “big score”.
It was thought a camera detected them making their way towards the house and Mark and Michelle received phone alerts.
Heart FM host Mark then heard a patio window smash and the alarm go off before the pair, 37 and 38, locked themselves in a bedroom.
It was understood four suspects were inside the house for around a minute but left when they heard Mark yelling.
Police were also alerted via the state-of-the-art security system and arrived at the couple’s mansion within minutes.
By then the gang had fled empty-handed in a getaway car.
The day before the break-in, Michelle enjoyed a “girls only” day out at a top restaurant with Mark’s mum and two sisters and close friends.
Mark’s sister Natalya posted pics of Monday’s event and said: “We organised the perfect ‘girls only’ day before a baby Wright arrives.”
A source told The Sun: “It was a traumatic experience for both of them but they are relieved that neither of them were injured.
“Mark did the sensible thing and stayed with his wife to make sure she was OK and they waited for police to arrive before leaving the room.
“It was a horrible thing to go through, particularly for someone who is heavily pregnant.
“They are understandably very shaken up by what happened.
TIMELINE OF THE RAID TERROR
Monday
Michelle enjoyed a “girls only” day out at a top restaurant with Mark’s mum and two sisters and close friends.
Tuesday
The gang got on to the countryside property’s extensive grounds in Essex just after 6pm.
A camera detected them making their way towards the house and Mark and Michelle received phone alerts.
Mark then heard a patio window smash and the alarm go off.
The pair locked themselves in a bedroom.
Four suspects were inside the house for around a minute but left when they heard Mark yelling.
The gang fled empty-handed in a getaway car.
Police were also alerted via the state-of-the-art security system and arrived at the couple’s mansion within minutes.
“Mark realised someone was breaking into the house. His first thoughts were for Michelle’s protection and he acted swiftly.”
Another source added: “As well as alerting them, the security system also notified the police and they came incredibly quickly.
Mark and Michelle came out of their bedroom when the police arrived and spoke to them[/caption]
The home was stormed at around 6pm on Tuesday[/caption]
Inside the couple’s mansion[/caption]
Valuables inside Michelle and Mark’s mansion[/caption]
“Mark and Michelle came out of their bedroom when the police arrived and spoke to them. They also gave them access to the CCTV.
“This has been a truly horrible thing to have happened to them. It is a very special time with their first baby on the way and this has been very difficult.”
Experts said the villains could have been attracted to the house by the couple’s Instagram page, which details how they created their “dream home”.
The account, Wrightyhome, has 663,000 followers and has been viewed by millions.
FANS CAN PEEK IN
By Ellie Henman, Bizarre Editor
MARK Wright set up an Instagram account so fans could see the couple “create our dream home” from scratch in 2021.
Wrightyhome’s 663,000 followers were treated to dozens of interior and exterior photos and videos of the house, which boasts a swimming pool, luxury gym and bespoke kitchen.
There are also aerial “before-and-after” shots of the Essex property, which was completed in 2023.
Mark’s last post on the account was as recent as February 8, when he shared photos of the “mind-blowing” staircase.
Companies who worked on the property have also shared pictures and videos online.
Mark’s wife Michelle Keegan told last year of the “sacrifices” they made to get it done.
She said: “It still gets me emotional. Because we’ve worked really hard for it. We’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices.
“I missed lots of milestones in my life due to work. Mark went to LA and we spent months apart, which was hard. But, it’s worth it.
“And the house — it’s also about security. Because you never know when all this is going to end.”
Last week the couple and their home also featured in a glossy spread in Hello! magazine.
Ex-Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: “The vast majority of people will look at an Instagram page for the right reasons.
“But if you are going to put your home in the public spotlight then there will be wicked people who try to take advantage of that.
“They will analyse images of the property to look for weaknesses in security and utilise that for their own nefarious purposes.”
He praised Mark’s cool-headed response, saying: “Nobody should confront burglars as you never know what weapons they might have.
“Staying with his pregnant wife and ensuring she was OK was exactly the right thing to do.”
Mark and Michelle began building their dream home in 2020 — inspired by Hollywood properties and Georgian architecture — and it took two years to complete.
A pal close to the couple said Mark insisted a high-level security system was put in place.
The friend said: “He was keen to make sure the house was protected when he set up the Instagram page.”
They added: “He doesn’t like being away from Michelle and wanted to know she would be safe in the house if they were ever targeted.
“To know the system they have in place works so well has given him huge peace of mind.”
The pair had been showing off recent home renovations as they look forward to the birth of their baby[/caption]
The gorgeous mansion illuminated for Christmas last year[/caption]
The couple barricaded themselves in a room upstairs[/caption]
They recently won council approval for two-metre wooden gates, four-metre-high trees, and a 1.2-metre wall to fortify their property[/caption]
