The burglary at the home shared by Tom Cleverley and his wife Georgina Dorsett is the latest in a string of raids at homes owned by professional footballers.

Here are just some of those targeted by thieves in the last few years:

Sam Johnstone

Sam Johnstone (pictured with his partner Bryony Turner) became the latest Manchester United player to be targeted by thieves when his home in Sale, Manchester, was robbed six weeks ago

Sam Johnstone became the latest Manchester United player to be targeted by thieves when his Manchester home was robbed six weeks ago.

The goalkeeper, 22, returned from the club's Champions League victory in Bruges to find his £40,000 Mercedes had been stolen.

Thieves smashed their way into Johnstone's house in Sale, Manchester, took the keys to his black A Class AMG and drove it away.

Police believe Johnstone was targeted by crooks who knew he would be away.

Angel Di Maria

Earlier this year, burglars used scaffolding poles in a bid to smash their way in to the home of Paris Saint-Germain footballer and former Manchester United star Angel Di Maria while he ate dinner with his family.

A gang of three armed thugs are reported to have used the metal poles in an attempt to break through patio doors at the Argentine's mansion in Cheshire.

The 26-year-old is said to have been eating dinner with his wife Jorgelina Cardoso and young daughter Mia when the terrifying raid unfolded. It is not known what, if anything was stolen during the raid but the family were left shocked by the ordeal.

They moved into a hotel and put the house on the market shortly after the break-in as Ms Cardoso reportedly became increasingly keen to leave Manchester. The midfielder left for PSG in the summer.

Peter Crouch

In 2011, the Cheshire home of Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy was targeted by burglars and a number of rings, a watch and a laptop stolen.

Burglars broke into the £4.5million Alderley Edge mansion – which was formerly owned by England cricketer Freddie Flintoff – before turning it upside down in the hunt for valuables.

It was not the first time Crouch had been targeted by burglars - he was raided in 2006 at his previous home in Alderley Edge. On that occasion raiders targeted the England striker as he played for his country in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Thieves trashed his house stealing football memorabilia, champagne and jewellery and his exclusive Aston Martin car worth a total of £200,000.

He was just one victim of a gang that repeatedly targeted the homes of Premiership footballers, including Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and Roque Santa Cruz, in the North West.

James Birch, 20, who raided six footballer’s homes - timed his break-ins to coincide with football games when he knew players would not be at home - was jailed for two and a half years in 2006.

Peter Crouch's £4.5million mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was targeted by burglars in 2011. The raiders took a number of rings belonging to his wife Abbey Clancy as well as watch and a laptop computer

Phil Jagielka

Everton and England defender Phil Jagielka was robbed at knifepoint at his home near Knutsford, Cheshire, in 2009.

A gang of robbers burst into his luxury £2.5million mansion as he watched his team play Hull in the Carling Cup among friends.

The gang threatened Jagielka with a knife and demanded to know where he kept all his valuables.

They then ordered him to hand over the keys to his luxury Range Rover before ransacking the house and making off with jewellery. The footballer was described as 'shocked and upset' by the raid.

Darren Fletcher

In 2009, the home of West Bromwich Albion captain and former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was robbed just hours after he had flown to Italy.

His wife, Hayley Grice, was seized by a gang of thugs and had a knife held to her throat after the ruthless gang burst into their gated £2m mansion.

She was then dragged round the house by her hair, forced to hand over her £30,000 engagement before being left shocked and in tears. The raiders made off with around £100,000 worth of jewellery.

Emile Heskey

In 2008, the £1.65million home of Bolton striker Emile Heskey was targeted while he was out training with his then-club Wigan Athletic.

The England footballer's fiancée was threatened at knifepoint by a gang of robbers after the attackers smashed their way through the front door of his Cheshire mansion and confronted Chantelle Tagoe, the mother of his two young children.

The raiders then ransacked the couple's seven-bedroom house, stealing jewellery before taking the footballer's £40,000 BMW 4x4 and fleeing.

Steven Gerrard

The wife of England footballer Steven Gerrard was threatened by burglars who warned her they would ‘take her kids’ during a terrifying raid on their home in December 2007.

Alex Curran came face-to-face with the masked gang, who demanded she hand over jewellery and the contents of a safe during the break-in at their £3million mansion in Formby, Liverpool.

Alex Curran, the wife of England footballer Steven Gerrard, was threatened by burglars who warned her they would ‘take her kids’ during a terrifying raid on their £3million mansion in Formby, Liverpool, in 2007

The 27-year-old shouted at the men to leave and initially denied there was a safe in the house. But when one threatened to get a knife and take the couple’s young daughters, then aged three and one, Miss Curran told them it was in a downstairs cupboard.

The gang ‘dragged’ a horrified Miss Curran to the safe and forced her to hand over the valuable silver Rolex watch she was wearing.

They escaped through patio doors which they had smashed to gain entry to the former Liverpool captain’s home.