Blackburn Rovers consider security after raid on Roque's home

The star striker became the second Rovers player to become the victim of burglars after a raid on Zurab Khizanishvilli's home two weeks ago.

Santa Cruz’s wife was forced to handover thousands of pounds worth of jewellery at the couple’s Cheshire home. She was not injured, but was left terrified.

Rovers manager Paul Ince pointed to raids on the Cheshire homes of nine Liverpool players and said security was something the club needed to look at.

He said: “I'm sure we will go through the right procedures, and try and get this done.

“I will sit down with our chairman because there are some security firms that specialise in looking over your house when you are away.”

The raid happened on Saturday while Santa Cruz was away preparing for Sunday’s match against Portsmouth.

Ince said: “It’s scary in a way. It puts life into perspective and football into perspective. Roque was shook up by it.

“His kids were there. He had to drive back on the Saturday evening and came back on Sunday.

“It was hard for him but hopefully things are okay for him and his family now”

Detectives said they were not linking the attacks on the Rovers and Liverpool players home at present.

Santa Cruz’s wife Giselle, 24, was threatened with a knife at the couple’s house in Bowdon, Cheshire.

Their two young children were in at the time.

Police said three men forced her to hand over a ‘substantial amount of jewellery, worth thousands of pounds’.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “As far as we’re concerned the robberies on the Premiership footballers, who live in the Cheshire area aren’t connected.

“Luckily, there were no reports of any injuries on Saturday evening, but the victim was left badly shaken.

“Hopefully the victim will be able to release a good description of the three men.”

At Khizanishvili’s home in Worsley in Salford, raiders tried to force their way in by smashing a window in the back door.

His wife confronted them and they fled.