Four held over string of Liverpool soccer burglaries

Four men are under arrest after a string of burglaries at the homes of Liverpool football players.

Police officers raided a house in Liverpool early today after a series of burglaries on the homes of England star Peter Crouch, Danish defender Daniel Agger, Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle, who has left the club to join Spanish side Recreativo Huelva on loan.

• Police take no action against Barton

Medals, shirts and "high value home entertainment equipment" was recovered from a house in the Tuebrook area of the city this morning, Merseyside Police said.

Crouch's mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was burgled last Wednesday while he was playing in a Champions League match against Galatasaray at Anfield.

After scoring two goals he returned home to find his house ransacked.

Four men, all in their 20s and from Liverpool, are now under arrest on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and handling stolen goods.

Det Sgt Peter Cain said: "This has been the result of hard work and persistence in partnership with our colleagues in Cheshire and while working closely with Liverpool FC.

"I would like to remind the public that handling stolen goods is a crime and one that Merseyside Police takes very seriously."