Reality television personality Amy Childs has spoken out after her £1.7 million mansion in Essex was burgled while she was on a family holiday. Childs shared her distress on Instagram stories, expressing relief that no one was home during the incident.
"Unfortunately, our home was burgled while we were away. We’re devastated, but so thankful that no one was in the house and everyone is safe," Childs wrote, thanking those who reached out. "We’re taking some time to process everything and really appreciate all of your messages."
Her home was reportedly ransacked, with a source telling The Sun that the property was "completely trashed." The source added, "She's absolutely heartbroken. She is just grateful that she and the kids were away when it happened, because it would have been terrifying if they had been there when the burglars came."
Childs, 36, was on holiday with her husband Billy Delbosq, 43, and her four children: twins Billy and Millie, aged two; daughter Polly, eight; and son Ritchie, seven. A representative for Childs confirmed the burglary to The Sun, stating, "No one was hurt which is the main thing. The police are all over it."
Childs's mansion is the latest in a series of celebrity homes to be targeted. Former TOWIE star Megan McKenna previously revealed that she decided to move to Germany after her UK home was broken into by intruders two years ago. McKenna described the incident on the "Great Company With Jamie Laing" podcast, recounting how three masked men with machetes and baseball bats broke into her home.
"I was robbed really badly in my own home. It scared me so much to be in the UK and to live in the UK on my own," McKenna said. She detailed waking to find her house shaking, with the intruders hacking a hole through her wall. McKenna stated she called the police, who arrived within minutes, and that she ultimately confronted the burglars, who took her jewelry. She expressed concerns about feeling unsafe in her home and the subsequent legal proceedings.
Other celebrities whose homes have reportedly been targeted include Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright.