32-year-old man arrested after England skipper Ben Stokes' home raided by masked gang

Durham Police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with a burglary at England Test captain Ben Stokes' home, where masked intruders targeted the property while his family was present, and he was away on international duty.

The incident occurred on October 17, while Stokes was in Pakistan leading the England team in a Test series. His wife and two young children were at their County Durham residence when the masked thief broke in, stealing several valuable and personally significant items.

Stokes' OBE medal, awarded in the 2020 New Year Honours list for his crucial role in England's 2019 ODI World Cup victory, was among the stolen possessions. Other items taken included a Christian Dior handbag, a gold ring bearing England cricket insignia, and several bracelets, as documented by Stokes himself on social media. The 33-year-old expressed his concern about the incident, particularly regarding his family's safety.

Also Check: Star England Captain Ben Stokes reveals burglars broke into house

"By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and 2 young children were in the house. Thankfully, none of my family came to any physical harm. Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state. All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been," Stokes wrote in a post on Instagram.

Also Read: Star England players Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler ink central contracts with ECB

Officers continue to appeal for information: Durham Constabulary spokesperson 

Durham Police confirmed that the suspect, from North Yorkshire, was arrested overnight on suspicion of burglary. The individual has since been released on bail as investigations continue. Law enforcement officials are still actively seeking information about the incident.

"Officers continue to appeal for information and anyone who can help is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 543 of October 17,” a Durham Constabulary spokesperson said as per News18.

Meanwhile, when the burglary occurred, Stokes was leading England which ultimately was a disappointing 2-1 Test series loss to Pakistan. The Three Lions are currently in the sixth position in the WTC points table with a PCT of 40.79.