Premier League stars targeted for expensive watches by gangs to pay off debts

PREMIER League stars are increasingly being targeted in home raids due to the watches they own, The Sun on Sunday has found.

Street gangs are using expensive timepieces to buy drugs and pay off debts — and focus on footballers to get them.

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Raheem Sterling became the latest player targeted by the gang while he was away at the World Cup[/caption]

One gang, the Tottenham Man Dem Crew, are linked to the raid on Raheem Sterling’s home.

The England ace, 28, flew home from Qatar after his mansion was raided by a mob who took watches and jewellery worth £300,000.

Dele Alli, Riyad Mahrez and Andy Carroll are among players to have had watches stolen in recent years in raids.

An underworld source said gangs can expect to make up to £20,000 cash from selling on a watch and view it as a “low risk crime”.

The source said: “They are worth an awful lot of money and are very easy to transport.”