Declan Donnelly and wife Ali smile as they are seen for first time since attempted robbery as their gate is repaired
DECLAN Donnelly and his wife Ali cracked a smile today as they were seen for the first time since professional thieves tried to break into their home.
The star, 45, and his wife, 43, were sleeping alongside their two-year-old daughter Isla at the time and fortunately were unaware of the attempted break in.
14 Declan Donnelly and his wife Ali were seen today following the attempted break in Credit: Dan Charity / The Sun
The couple, who The Sun revealed were left shaken by the incident, put on brave faces as they emerged to walk their dog.
A repairman was seen checking over the iron gates of the seven-bed property, ensuring the safety of the family.
Police rushed to the £5million home shortly before 1am yesterday following a 999 call.
14 The couple were seen taking their dog for a walk after being left shaken Credit: Dan Charity / The Sun
14 A repairman was seen checking the gates at Dec’s property Credit: Getty
The thieves were foiled by the home’s fortress-like security and sped away from the West London property in a car.
A source said: “Dec and Ali weren’t disturbed. The first they realised anything was amiss was in the morning.”
The burglars fled just moments before police arrived.
14 The security at the property prevented the break in Credit: Getty
14 The man was seen ensuring everything was in place Credit: Dan Charity / The Sun
Officers rushed to the scene shortly before 1am after receiving a 999 call.
But the suspects — believed to be a “professional” gang — sped off in a car and escaped the officers by a whisker.
The raiders had failed to rip open iron gates at the front of the seven-bedroom home.
14 ‘Professional’ burglars targeted the home while the TV star, wife Ali and young daughter Isla were sleeping
Dec, 45, and Ali, 43, were unaware of the attempted break-in until later when police notified them.
Forensic checks were taking place at the property in West London, yesterday.
Door-to-door inquiries in the upmarket street – where Dec’s TV sidekick Ant McPartlin used to live — were also carried by plain-clothes detectives.
CCTV footage obtained from Dec’s home and neighbours is also being analysed.
14 Officers carried out forensic checks at Dec’s £5 million home in West London Credit: Dan Charity - The Sun
14 Door to door inquiries in the upmarket street were also carried out by plain-clothes detectives
14 Dec’s TV sidekick Ant McPartlin also used to live on the street Credit: Rex
The Met Police said: “Police were called at approximately 00:40hrs to reports of an attempted burglary at a residential property.
“Officers attended. The suspects had left the scene prior to police arrival. There was no evidence that they had gained access to the property.
“Inquiries are ongoing. At this early stage, there have been no arrests.”
Last night a source said: “The robbers couldn’t force the gates open and that’s what made them give up, and flee.
14 Meanwhile Ant and Anne Marie were seen walking their dogs Credit: Colin Jack
14 Ant used to live on the same street as Dec Credit: Colin Jack
“Dec and Ali weren’t disturbed — the first they realised anything was amiss was in the morning.”
Experts said it is likely that the Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity co-host was deliberately targeted.
Former Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville, said: “It is quite possible they staked out the address in advance and knew Dec lives there.
“The burglars are probably a professional team if they’re prepared to burgle a celebrity’s home with good CCTV and security.”
14 Experts said it is likely the Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity co-host was deliberately targeted Credit: PA
Dec bought the house for £1.9million in 2006.
Ant, 45, bought one in the same road that year but moved out after splitting from ex-wife Lisa Armstrong, 44, who still lives there.
Yesterday one of Dec and Ali’s neighbours said: “The police arrived very soon after the car drove off.
“They are lovely neighbours. I hope it doesn’t scare them off from living here.”
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Another said burglars raided a home a few doors along from Dec’s a couple of months ago.
There have been 103 burglaries in the fashionable area in just ten months.
Last night a spokesman for Dec declined to comment.
14 There have been 103 burglaries in Dec and Ali’s fashionable area in just ten months Credit: PA:Press Association
Gang of ‘professional’ burglars target Declan Donnelly’s home
Image from Getty
TV presenter Declan Donnelly and his family were left shaken after ‘professional’ burglars targeted their home while they slept.
According to reports in The Sun, Police rushed to the £5m property at 1am following a 999 call while Dec, his wife Ali and their daughter Isla slept.
The burglars fled the scene after failing to gain entry to the TV stars home in west London, moments before the police arrived.
Image from Getty.
The thieves are believed to be a ‘professional’ gang who sped off in a car after failing to rip open the iron gates at the front of the property.
Reports are that Dec and Ali were unaware of the attempted break-in until later when police notified them.
Additional forensic checks were taking place at the property yesterday, with CCTV footage from the home and neighbouring area is also said to be being analysed.
Image from Getty.
In a statement the Met Police said, “Police were called at approximately 00:40hrs to reports of an attempted burglary at a residential property.
“Officers attended. The suspects had left the scene prior to police arrival. There was no evidence that they had gained access to the property.
“Inquiries are ongoing. At this early stage, there have been no arrests.”
Image from Getty.
A source told The Sun “The robbers couldn’t force the gates open and that’s what made them give up, and flee.
“Dec and Ali weren’t disturbed — the first they realised anything was amiss was in the morning.”
Former Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville, said: “It is quite possible they staked out the address in advance and knew Dec lives there.
“The burglars are probably a professional team if they’re prepared to burgle a celebrity’s home with good CCTV and security.”
Declan Donnelly: Saturday Night Takeaway presenter’s home targeted by thieves while family slept upstairs
Declan Donnelly’s family are said to be “shaken” after the presenter’s home was targeted by thieves over the long weekend.
Police were called after burglars attempted to break into the Saturday Night Takeaway host’s west London home, The Sun reports. At the time Donnelly, his wife Ali and daughter Isla were all sleeping upstairs.
Police arrived just before the thieves could gain access to the £5m home, with forensics sweeping the area for evidence and CCTV taken for further analysis.
A statement from the Met Police reads: “Police were called at approximately 00:40hrs to reports of an attempted burglary at a residential property.
“Officers attended. The suspects had left the scene prior to police arrival. There was no evidence that they had gained access to the property. Inquiries are ongoing. At this early stage, there have been no arrests.”
Read more:
The Independent has contacted Donnelly’s representatives for further comment.
Donnelly has lived in the house since 2006, marrying Ali in 2015. Their daughter, now two, was born in 2018.
He rose to fame alongside Ant McPartlin in the 1990s, with the pair later becoming a presenting duo.
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They host Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway together, which is currently airing its 17th series.