Premier League star Joelinton has issued a heartfelt plea to burglars after his family home was raided for the second time in less than a year.
The Newcastle United ace revealed the distressing news on Instagram, saying: “Our home was broken into again. To anyone considering doing this: Please know that there is nothing valuable left here! What we care about most is our family’s safety and our kids growing up without fear.”
“We hope for a community where our children, and everyone’s children, feel safe. We ask that our home be respected as a safe space for our family. We simply want to live in peace.”
The 28-year-old midfielder, who resides in the plush Darras Hall area of Northumberland, known as “Millionaires’ Row”, with his partner Thays Gondim and their three children, was first targeted by thieves back in January while he was at St James’ Park for Newcastle’s clash with Manchester City.
Despite being injured, Joelinton attended the game, which meant his mansion was empty when the break-in happened, reports the Mirror. After receiving security alerts on their phones, the couple contacted Northumbria Police, but the perpetrators had already made their escape by the time officers reached the property.
(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
A local told the Mirror after the shocking firebombing early today on Runnymede Road: “I came back from the match and the road was cordoned off. There was a lot of police activity around the place. It was not until later that I realised it was the home of Joelinton.”
The resident continued, voicing concerns over security sparked by recent events: “There have been reports of a number of burglaries in the area recently, but not on the homes of footballers. It does make you think about security. I am just glad his wife and children were not at home, that’s the main thing.”
Joelinton, who moved to Newcastle from Hoffenheim in 2019 for a hefty £40million fee, has since played 198 times for the club, clocking up 27 goals and 15 assists. In the current season, he’s bagged two goals in 11 Premier League matches and found the net in their 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest just prior to the international hiatus.
Despite an impressive career, including five caps for Brazil, Joelinton didn’t make the cut for the country’s latest World Cup qualifying squad to face Venezuela and Uruguay.