ENGLAND stars are ramping up their home security after armed thugs broke into Raheem Sterling’s house.
The team also offered their support to the Chelsea forward, 27, after the raid when his fiancé and children were home.
And they are understood to be considering increasing their personal security too.
Police were at Sterling’s luxury estate in Cobham, Surrey, over the weekend and security patrolled it late into the night.
Terrified fiancée Paige Milian, 27 — at home with their two kids — raised the alarm when the gang took watches worth £300,000.
It is the latest in a string of burglaries targeting footballers.
Sterling rushed home ahead of England’s 3-0 win over Senegal yesterday to comfort his family, who are understood to have been left shaken by the incident on Saturday.
It is not known if property developer Paige confronted the raiders or whether they fled when they realised someone was in.
The gang may have thought she and the couple’s sons, aged five and three, were still in Qatar.
Sterling told FA chiefs he had to go home. News that he’d left the squad broke shortly before the last-16 clash with Senegal.
He may return to Qatar for Saturday’s quarter-final against France.
Boss Gareth Southgate said after yesterday’s win: “The priority for him is to be with his family.
“We’re going to support that and leave him to have as much time as he needs.
“He’s going home. I don’t want to put him under pressure. Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing, family should come first.”
Captain Harry Kane added: “Our thoughts are with him and his family.
“It’s a private matter but it’s never easy to see one of your teammates and friends deal with something like that.
“We’ll have to take it day by day. I’m sure Raheem will speak to the manager and take the best decision for him an his family. That’s the most important thing. We send him our best wishes and hope to see him as soon as possible.”
And Jordan Henderson, who wore Sterling’s No10 shorts when the players met their families after full-time, said: “It’s a blow but I hope everything is OK with Raheem’s family at home.
“I hope he goes back and can sort everything out.
“I’m not sure if he can come back, I suppose he will have to assess when he’s there but all our thoughts and support are with him.”
Before England’s first game Paige posted pictures of the two boys on a cruise ship in Doha, and she was tagged in social media images with cocktails.
A family source said: “This was terrifying for her and obviously traumatic for all the family.
“Raheem will have been beside himself with worry when he heard.
“To be away when your partner and children are at home when an armed gang breaks in is beyond words.
“It looks like about £300,000 of watches have been taken. The police were there several hours.”
The boss of a national intelligence unit focused on serious organised crime has warned of a rise in raids on stars due to gangs scouring social media feeds.
Supt Carl Williams, of Operation Opal, said: “In today’s world where many wealthy individuals are active on social media their significant public profile can help make them targets.
“Their high-value possessions are often on display as well as information about their plans.”
The FA said last night: “Raheem is not available for selection for the Three Lions tonight as he is dealing with a family matter.”
