A former Premier League footballer has revealed his family’s toll after the alleged theft of nearly half a million pounds of jewelery by a cleaner – and has vowed to sue the cleaning business.
Benik Afobe, 30, who plays in the United Arab Emirates with Hatta FC, last week accused the cleaner of stealing £400,000 worth of valuables from his family residence.
The former Bournemouth and Wolves striker claimed the alleged incident happened at his mother’s home in Elstree on the morning of Wednesday June 14, before taking to social media to try to find the cleaner, publishing several appeals for public assistance.
The 30-year-old even went so far as to post the housekeeper’s passport, complete with her personal details and photo, for her 1.2 million Instagram followers to see, also posting camera footage of the alleged suspect leaving his house, as well as links to their TikTok account, on his Instagram story.
And Afobe opened up about the stress of the heartbreaking incident on the Counter Attack podcast – saying the woman, who he says fled to Romania, may have had a gun before questioning the police response to the alleged theft.
Former Premier League footballer Benik Afobe (pictured) has opened up on his family’s emotional toll following the alleged theft of nearly half a million pounds worth of jewelery by a cleaner
Attacker Afobe, 30, said ‘she could have had a gun’ and vowed to sue the cleaning company
He said: ‘Mind. The woman who stole arrives at nine, 9:45 am, she comes downstairs and says “my husband just called me, my son is not well, I have to leave”. When you hear that, obviously I lost my daughter – “go ahead, go ahead”. Missus comes up and says “Oh, my bracelets are gone”.
‘The hunt, comes to the end of the road and says “If you give it all back now, I won’t go to the police”. She throws away two watches, gets in the car with someone else. I approached her. No phone, no safe, the woman rushes off. Fortunately, thanks to social networks, someone discovered… that she was in fact back in Romania.
“I don’t want to start attacking the police, but I feel like more could have been done. But we will continue the business. The same woman could also have had a weapon in this bag… we were in the house, it’s crazy like that. (It was worth) around £400,000 is a lot of money for anyone. My mother lost something her mother had given her.
“At the end of the day, it’s just material things, no one was hurt, people are living worse. It’s just about someone who has the audacity to steal when you’re in the house. It’s not going to be disrespectful like that. I just hope the police and lawyers can play their part in the situation and it can be resolved.
And Afobe, who spent three seasons in the English top flight with Bournemouth, also explained how difficult it was to continue playing football after the tragic loss of his daughter.
He added: “That’s the hardest part of the whole situation. Imagine. It’s not even mourning. If I’m being really honest, football has been a lot tougher since she passed away, 100%. I think about it all the time.
“I have other children, and they are a blessing, but when I first came back it was difficult. I was playing badly. Stoke fans used to catch me, they didn’t know I was going through stuff. I’ve been to hell and back.
Posting the alleged suspect’s passport photo earlier, he wrote: ‘This woman stole £400,000 of my family’s jewelery this morning from my mum’s house in Elstree whilst cleaning!! knows, let me know ASAP!!’
Afobe posted a photo of the alleged suspect’s passport online (left) before removing it
Afobe’s Instagram also included a photo of the alleged suspect’s social media posts
Afobe played for Bournemouth in the Premier League, as well as several clubs including Stoke
Another post, this time including his TikTok account, read: “If you’re going to steal someone half a million pounds worth of valuables, get rid of your social media first.”
Afobe has been capped by DR Congo six times but last played for the Leopards in 2018.
Arguably his best season came in 2021-22, when he managed 13 goals and three assists for Millwall in all competitions, playing 41 games on loan.
The resulting transfer provided a return of just two strikes in 10 games.
He joined Hatta on a free transfer in January and scored nine goals in 17 games for the club.