Rio Ferdinand bravely caught an intruder in his back garden to save his family and held him until cops arrived.
Ferdinand, 44, saw the man at his home in South East London while his pregnant wife Kate, 31, and their kids were inside.
A source who confirmed the incident said: “This was a frightening incident.”
The Manchester United legend bravely tackled the intruder with the intent to protect his pregnant wife, kids, and property.
CCTV footage from the cameras installed in his £4 million home showed the suspect tried to open the rear patio doors to get inside.
The Intruder who happened to be a man then spent the night in the garden and was challenged by Rio the next morning.
The former England and Manchester United defender held onto the intruder until the arrival of security guards on the private estate in Bromley, South East London.
The Metropolitan Police were called afterward and they came and took the intruder away.
Rio Ferdinand was shocked to find the man outside of his house on Friday.
Another source confirmed that night saying: “This was a frightening incident which has left Rio and Kate pretty shaken up."
“It’s worrying that someone got into the grounds but Rio dealt with it — and they both know it could have been a lot worse. But it caused a lot of concern.”
Another source also confirmed that: “Rio was alarmed to see an intruder and was naturally concerned for the safety of his family."
“He acted promptly and decisively and went outside to deal with any potential threat."
“Rio alerted the estate’s security team and then went outside to confront the intruder and demand what he was doing there."
“He kept him there until a security guard arrived soon afterward and the man was led outside and detained until the police got there.”
Rio’s wife Kate, who was heavily pregnant, a former Towie star was inside the house with her son Cree, two, and stepchildren Lorenz, 16, Tate, 14, and Tia, 12, from Rio’s first marriage.
Police eventually took the intruder to the hospital first after he complained of feeling uneasy.
Despite an obvious attempt to break into Rio Ferdinand’s house, the intruder was not arrested.
Mick Neville, ex-Metropolitan Police also said in a statement: “It’s good to see a TV celebrity and famous footballer taking action to defend his home and family."
“There have been some horrendous stories about the homes of footballers being broken into.”
“Rio couldn’t be sure what he was dealing with when he went outside to deal with the suspect."
“He should be commended for dealing with it courageously.”
It was confirmed that the alleged intruder is a homeless man who is suspected to have got onto the estate — patrolled by guards — via a public bridleway.
The incident was later resolved through a community resolution with Rio and Kate’s consent.
The Met also said: “Police were called to a 70-year-old man detained by a private security guard having been found in the garden of a residential property."
“He was dealt with by a community resolution for ‘Being on Enclosed Premises for an Unlawful Purpose’, an offense under the Vagrancy Act.”
Kate who took to her Instagram to share stylish photos of herself and her growing baby bump on Instagram later on Friday did not even give a hint about the incident.
She posted: “A very busy but exciting week. Now get me home on the sofa in my pjs to my babies & hubby.”
Kate made a surprise appearance on Mo Gilligan’s The Lateish Show where Rio Ferdinand was a guest that same night.
Rio Gavin Ferdinand OBE is an English former footballer who was born on 7 November 1978 and played as a center-back and is now a television pundit for BT Sport.
Ferdinand played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011 and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads.
The former defender is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time and is regarded by many as one of England's greatest-ever players.
Ferdinand announced his intention to become a professional boxer, partly to help him cope with the death of his wife In September 2017.
Kate Ferdinand is a much-loved TV personality and has quickly become one of the UK's most relatable women, having recently married professional footballer Rio Ferdinand and taken on the role of stepmom to his three young children.
Their intimate documentary Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily aired on BBC One in 2020 with an incredible consolidated audience of over 7 million viewers.
Rio Ferdinand and Kate got married on 27 September 2019 after he lost his first wife, Ellison in 2015.
The wedding was attended by his children, along with the couple's other close family members.
And then in June 2020, Ferdinand and Kate announced that they were expecting their first child together, the child, a boy, was born on 18 December 2020.
Ferdinand, 44, saw the man at his home in South East London while his pregnant wife Kate, 31, and their kids were inside.
A source who confirmed the incident said: “This was a frightening incident.”
The Manchester United legend bravely tackled the intruder with the intent to protect his pregnant wife, kids, and property.
CCTV footage from the cameras installed in his £4 million home showed the suspect tried to open the rear patio doors to get inside.
The Intruder who happened to be a man then spent the night in the garden and was challenged by Rio the next morning.
The former England and Manchester United defender held onto the intruder until the arrival of security guards on the private estate in Bromley, South East London.
The Metropolitan Police were called afterward and they came and took the intruder away.
Rio Ferdinand was shocked to find the man outside of his house on Friday.
Another source confirmed that night saying: “This was a frightening incident which has left Rio and Kate pretty shaken up."
“It’s worrying that someone got into the grounds but Rio dealt with it — and they both know it could have been a lot worse. But it caused a lot of concern.”
Another source also confirmed that: “Rio was alarmed to see an intruder and was naturally concerned for the safety of his family."
“He acted promptly and decisively and went outside to deal with any potential threat."
“Rio alerted the estate’s security team and then went outside to confront the intruder and demand what he was doing there."
“He kept him there until a security guard arrived soon afterward and the man was led outside and detained until the police got there.”
Rio’s wife Kate, who was heavily pregnant, a former Towie star was inside the house with her son Cree, two, and stepchildren Lorenz, 16, Tate, 14, and Tia, 12, from Rio’s first marriage.
Police eventually took the intruder to the hospital first after he complained of feeling uneasy.
Despite an obvious attempt to break into Rio Ferdinand’s house, the intruder was not arrested.
Mick Neville, ex-Metropolitan Police also said in a statement: “It’s good to see a TV celebrity and famous footballer taking action to defend his home and family."
“There have been some horrendous stories about the homes of footballers being broken into.”
“Rio couldn’t be sure what he was dealing with when he went outside to deal with the suspect."
“He should be commended for dealing with it courageously.”
It was confirmed that the alleged intruder is a homeless man who is suspected to have got onto the estate — patrolled by guards — via a public bridleway.
The incident was later resolved through a community resolution with Rio and Kate’s consent.
The Met also said: “Police were called to a 70-year-old man detained by a private security guard having been found in the garden of a residential property."
“He was dealt with by a community resolution for ‘Being on Enclosed Premises for an Unlawful Purpose’, an offense under the Vagrancy Act.”
Kate who took to her Instagram to share stylish photos of herself and her growing baby bump on Instagram later on Friday did not even give a hint about the incident.
She posted: “A very busy but exciting week. Now get me home on the sofa in my pjs to my babies & hubby.”
Kate made a surprise appearance on Mo Gilligan’s The Lateish Show where Rio Ferdinand was a guest that same night.
Who is Rio Ferdinand?
Rio Gavin Ferdinand OBE is an English former footballer who was born on 7 November 1978 and played as a center-back and is now a television pundit for BT Sport.
Ferdinand played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011 and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads.
The former defender is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time and is regarded by many as one of England's greatest-ever players.
Ferdinand announced his intention to become a professional boxer, partly to help him cope with the death of his wife In September 2017.
Kate Ferdinand
Kate Ferdinand is a much-loved TV personality and has quickly become one of the UK's most relatable women, having recently married professional footballer Rio Ferdinand and taken on the role of stepmom to his three young children.
Their intimate documentary Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily aired on BBC One in 2020 with an incredible consolidated audience of over 7 million viewers.
Rio Ferdinand and Kate got married on 27 September 2019 after he lost his first wife, Ellison in 2015.
The wedding was attended by his children, along with the couple's other close family members.
And then in June 2020, Ferdinand and Kate announced that they were expecting their first child together, the child, a boy, was born on 18 December 2020.