England’s Test cricket captain, Ben Stokes, has publicly appealed for information following a burglary at his Durham home. The break-in occurred on 17 October while Stokes was playing in Pakistan, with his wife and two young children present in the house during the incident. Thankfully, no physical harm came to his family, but Stokes shared that the experience has significantly affected their emotional well-being.
Stokes took to social media to urge anyone with potential leads to come forward, stating that several valuable and sentimental items were stolen, many of which are “irreplaceable.” Among the stolen items were jewellery and personal belongings, some of which Stokes has shared images of in hopes that they may help identify the perpetrators.
“This is an appeal for any help in finding these people who carried out this act,” Stokes posted. “The worst part of this crime is that it was done while my family was at home. Though we lost cherished possessions, my motivation is not to recover them but to help catch those responsible. Please contact Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting crime reference CRI00575927, if you have any relevant information.”
Stokes also extended his thanks to Durham Police, praising their support for his family during his absence. The police have been outstanding both while I was in Pakistan and now as they continue to pursue this investigation,” he said.
This unsettling event comes amid a challenging tour for the England captain. After sitting out the first Test due to injury, Stokes returned for the remaining matches against Pakistan, where England ultimately lost the series 2-1. Despite the setback, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum expressed full support for Stokes, noting the captain’s resilience and commitment to the team.
The England cricket community has rallied around Stokes, echoing his appeal for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of those involved in the burglary.
Anyone with knowledge of the incident is urged to reach out to Durham Police as the investigation continues.
