In a distressing incident, Ben Stokes, the captain of the England cricket team, reported that his home was broken into by masked intruders while his family was present in the house. This occurred while Stokes was away in Pakistan, as he disclosed on Wednesday. The incident took place on October 17 at his residence in Castle Eden, located in northeast England. Among the stolen possessions was his OBE, or Order of the British Empire, a prestigious medal awarded by the country.

Stokes expressed his deep concern regarding the situation, emphasizing that the most alarming aspect of the break-in was that it happened while his wife and two young children were at home. He expressed relief that none of his family members were physically harmed, but acknowledged the emotional toll that such an experience can have on them. He shared his thoughts through a post on X, stating, “Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state. All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been.”

The burglars made off with various items, including jewelry and numerous personal belongings, many of which hold significant sentimental value for Stokes and his family, and are irreplaceable treasures. Stokes mentioned that the items taken from their home were not merely material possessions but held deep personal meaning.

In an effort to aid law enforcement in identifying and apprehending the culprits, Stokes decided to make the details public. He shared images of some of the stolen goods, stating that although they have lost treasured items, his primary intention in disclosing the information is not merely to recover material possessions but to ensure that justice is served. Stokes clearly articulated his motivation in his post, underscoring that catching the perpetrators is his main focus.