Elche captain Matías Dituro experienced dramatic moments on Thursday evening when masked intruders broke into his family home. Dituro arrived at the house at 20:49 with his two children, aged six and eight, unaware that the criminals were still inside.
According to his account, his wife called to inform him that three masked men had just forcibly broken into their home. The children immediately burst into tears and begged their father not to get out of the car. Dituro listened to his children and remained in the vehicle.
The following morning, Dituro shared the traumatic experience on social media. He stated that the previous day, at around 20:45, three individuals wearing hoods and carrying tools had forcibly broken into their home while a fourth person stayed outside, watching and warning if anyone approached. At 20:49, he arrived home with his two children, aged six and eight, unaware that the criminals were still inside. At that precise moment, he received a call from his wife warning him of what was happening.
Thanks to his wife's warning and the quick reaction of a neighbour, who heard the noises and confirmed on his security cameras that a break-in was in progress, Dituro and his children did not enter the house. The children burst into tears, begging him not to get out of the car and to leave. "It was a few minutes of pure terror that I will never forget," Dituro said.
The thieves fled shortly after, leaving the house completely trashed and taking some of their belongings. Dituro stated that material things can be replaced, but peace and a sense of security in the home will not be so easily restored. He sincerely thanked the neighbour for the quick reaction and everyone showing support, adding that thanks to that call, they can say today that everyone is fine.
Attacks on footballers and their homes are not rare. At the end of October, Sergio Rico, former goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain and the Spanish national team, survived drama with his family in his own home, where he was attacked by five armed and masked intruders. While he was having dinner with his wife, their two young children and his mother-in-law, the robbers broke into the house. Rico was tied up, a pistol was pointed at his mother-in-law's head, and they ultimately fled with a significant amount of cash, jewellery, expensive watches and designer handbags.
Villarreal goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi and his family were also victims of an armed robbery in the early hours of the morning while they were sleeping in their home. Betis player Antony was targeted by robbers while playing a Champions League match against Porto, and manager Manuel Pellegrini later revealed that one of Antony's sons was in the house during the break-in. During a recent El Clásico, intruders broke into the villa of Real Madrid defender Éder Militão and stole watches, jewellery and handbags worth more than €350,000, while members of his family were on the ground floor of the house watching the match.
While Lamine Yamal was playing the World Cup semi-final against France, two masked intruders attempted to enter his residence in Barcelona, but private security intercepted them and prevented the robbery. In recent years, Sergio Ramos, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata, Casemiro and Rodrygo have also been targeted by robbers.
