One of the heroes of Istanbul, goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, has been the victim of a major burglary at his home. Dudek was omitted from the Polish squad for the World Cup and was on holiday back home in Poland at the time the burglary took place. Perhaps most upsetting about the crime for him will be the fact that irreplaceable football memoribilia and souveniers were part of the haul.
He’s estimated that a total 120 items were stolen, including items like his European Cup winners medal from 2005. He’s also lost goalkeeper’s gloves and over 100 shirts worn by him for significant games, such as one from the 2002 World Cup finals and his Worthington Cup Final shirt from 2005. The thieves also got away with a small plasma TV and two gold rings, along with two watches – a £2,500 Rolex, and a Cartier one presented during his Dutch playing days and engraved with the words, “100 Years of the Dutch Football Association”.
More valuable perhaps in money terms perhaps was the player’s £65,000 Porsche Carrera car. It’s said to be extremely distinctive, having Polish plates, left hand drive, and black alloy wheels to match the black bodywork.
According to the Liverpool Daily Post, Merseyside Police feel the items, estimated value totalling £100,000, may turn out to be offered for sale either on the internet or through local dealers. Police want anyone who spots anything for sale to report it.
The break-in was only discovered by a friend of Dudek on Monday night
but could have happened at any time in the last week whilst Jerzy was
on holiday. A Liverpool FC spokesman explained how badly hit Dudek had
been by this blow: “A lot of this stuff which has been stolen is
irreplaceable and you can’t put a price on it. Jerzy is obviously
devastated. We are talking about the memorabilia of someone’s career
and also a lifetime. Jerzy was made famous by what he did in the
Champions League and for someone to have gone into his house and stolen
it is despicable. On behalf of the club and the player we would ask
anyone with information to contact either us or Merseyside Police.”
A statement from a police spokeswoman said: “Merseyside Police are
investigating reports of a burglary at a house in in Caldy, Wirral. The
burglary was reported by a friend of the owner on Monday, June 19 and
was thought to have happened within the last week while the homeowners
were away on holiday. The homeowner arrived back in the country late
last night and police officers will be speaking to him today to find
out exactly what has been stolen, although it is known that a black
Porsche Carrera has definitely been stolen. There were a large number
of distinctive items of memorabilia stolen which obviously have
sentimental value to the owner.”
Then came the request for help, which I’m sure most Liverpool
supporters will be willing to provide if possible: “If anyone spots
them being sold on the internet or in the local shops or in their local
pub, it will be obvious that they are special items. We would urge
anyone who spots them on sale to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
This is a list of some of the missing items:
- Champions League 2005 winners’ medal
-
More than 100 international and Premiership goalkeeper shirts,
including a Champion’s League final shirt, World Cup 2002 shirt, and a
2005 Worthington Cup Final shirt - Pair of World Cup final goalkeeper’s gloves with Dudek’s name on the wrist
- Five pairs of Adidas World Cup goalkeeper gloves, also bearing Dudek’s name on the strap
-
A selection of medals including a winner’s medal from the 2005
Champions’ League, a UEFA Super Cup medal, a 2004 Worthington Cup
medal, and other medals - Limited edition Champions League pictures
- Small plasma TV
- Two gold rings
- Red limited edition LFC shirt, numbered “1 of 10,000”
- Frank Muller watch engraved with the words: Champion’s League Winner, one of only 36 ever made
- Rolex watch, Mariner’s style, with box, worth £2,500
- Cartier watch inscribed with the words: 100 Years of the Dutch Football Association
- Gold Amiga watch with gold face and black strap
- Gucci men’s watch
-
Black Porsche Carrera car, worth an estimated £65,000, which has
distinctive Polish plates and is a left hand drive and has black alloys