Harry and Meghan warned by police that their £11.8m mansion is a target for thieves
The Sussexes have been issued a security warning by local police following a series of recent break ins close to their Montecito home where the couple live with their two kids.
(Image: Netflix)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been issued a warning from police that their £11.8m mansion is a potential target for thieves after one of their neighbours was recently burgled.
Following a series of break ins within the area, one of which was just five minutes away from the Sussexes’ lavish home in Montecito California, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office issued a statement as they warned that criminals are going for unoccupied properties.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff officer Rachel Zick said: “In the past week, deputies have taken several burglary reports with notable similarities in the resident layouts, times of occurrence and items taken.
“In these burglaries, criminals target unoccupied residences that back up to open spaces such as golf courses as well as creeks, streams or the ocean.”
(Image: Google Earth)
This will undoubtedly spark concern for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as their home might have been empty during one of the burglaries as the couple recently jetted off to Jamaica to attend the film premiere of Bob Marley: One Love, OK! reports.
Rachel added: “Investigators have noted most of these crimes tend to occur between the hours of 6pm and 10pm.
“The most recent burglaries occurred on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in the 1500-block of Las Tunas in Montecito, and two in the 800- block of Sand Point Lane, Carpinteria. The suspect(s) in these cases are targeting safes.”
This is not the first time that Harry and Meghan have been alerted about potential thieves as it was revealed back in July 2022 that their mansion had six break-in alerts within the first 14 months of their move to the US.
Two of these were intruder scares with police rushing to respond as both calls were logged as “trespasser”, “property crimes” and “suspicious circumstances”.
The former royal couple who live in their Montecito mansion with their two young kids have spent a hefty sum on security to ensure their family’s safety.
It’s been reported that the bill for their security equates to $2million (£1.5million).
A source told Page Six that the Sussexes forked out this amount after the Royal Family took their bodyguards away.
The couple are said to currently employ Barack Obama’s security guard Christopher Sanchez.
(Image: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Harry and Meghan’s recent surprise trip to Jamaica has not only caused concern regarding the security of their home but also led to reports they were being ‘calculated’ towards King Charles as they rubbed shoulders with individuals who have announced they are publicly against the monarch.
They were reportedly seen chatting with the Caribbean isle’s minister for legal and constitutional affairs on the red carpet.
Marlene Malahoo Forte is reported to have previously vowed to “sever ties” with the British monarchy and said that the “time is now”.
The duke and duchess also posed for pictures with Prime Minister Holness and his wife Juliet.
Mr. Holness had previously took Prince William and Kate Middleton by surprise during their Caribbean tour when he revealed his future plans for his nation to “move on” from the British monarchy.