Thugs linked to raid at Man Utd star Victor Lindelof’s home while his terrified wife and kids were inside are jailed
A GANG of car thieves have been linked to a terrifying raid at Victor Lindelof’s home while he was playing for Man Utd.
The centre-back’s wife Maja previously revealed how she was forced to lock herself in a room with her two children as the thugs broke in.
Lindelof, 28, was playing for Utd against Brentford at the time of the burglary on January 19 last year.
Declan McClusky, Alan McCabe, Kade McEwan and Christopher Ward have now been jailed for their part in a conspiracy to burgle homes in a three-month rampage.
Manchester Crown Court heard the burglars at Lindelof’s home in Trafford left empty-handed after they were “interrupted”.
But police found a white Nissan Qashqai linked to the raid, which ad earlier been stolen from a nearby property.
Fingerprints found on the seized motor were identified to McCluskey.
Police later linked the gang to 13 incidents where cars – including Audis and Porsches – were stolen from car parks and driveways acrpss Manchester.
These vehicles would then be used in other burglaries as the thugs terrorised victims across the city.
Hugh Mckee, prosecuting, said: “McCluskey and McCabe, the Crown says, are part of a long-running operation to burgle houses and steal cars.
“Jewellery was taken on at least two occasions that we know of.”
Maja previously opened up about the raid on the family home in a harrowing Instagram post.
She wrote: “During Victor’s game this Wednesday night we had a break-in at our house in Manchester.
“I was home alone with both the kids but we managed to hide and lock ourselves in a room before they entered our house.
“We are okay under the circumstances, but it was obviously a very traumatic and scary moment for both me and my little kids.
“We are now in Sweden and are spending some time off with our families. Love, Maja.”
Ralf Rangnick, then-interim manager, said at the time the Sweden international told him he did not want to leave his wife and children at home alone.
McClusky, 20, was caged for thee years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.
McCabe, 19, was jailed for three years and 11 months and McEwan, 20, was sentenced to one year and 20 months after after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
While Ward, 20, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.
Detective Constable Chris Bromley from GMP Serious Organised Crime Group said: “This group were prolific thieves, and these were really intrusive crimes where they would often break into people’s homes and steal the cars from their drives, leaving people unable to get to work or take their children to school.
“These men had no regard for public safety with their behaviour and reckless driving, and I hope this incident demonstrates that no matter how organised a gang may think they are, we will use all the experience and resources available to available to put these individuals behind bars.”