TELLY star Mark Wright scared off a gang of raiders by yelling from his bedroom as he looked after pregnant wife Michelle Keegan, sources said last night.
It is understood four suspects were inside the £3.5million property for around a minute but left when they heard Mark yelling.
Michelle, expecting their first child within weeks, hid in a locked bedroom with her hubby after he heard a patio window smash.
Police were also alerted via the state-of-the-art security system, and arrived at the couple’s Essex mansion within minutes.
By then the gang, said to be wearing balaclavas and all dressed in black, had fled empty-handed in a getaway car.
Mark and Michelle, both 37, were last night said to be relieved but “very shaken up” by the ordeal.
The gang, who detectives believe were professionals looking for a “big score”, got onto the countryside property’s extensive grounds just after 6pm on Tuesday.
It is thought a camera detected them making their way towards the house while Mark and Michelle also received phone alerts.
Heart FM host Mark then heard a patio window smash and the alarm go off, said the source.
The source told The Sun: “Mark realised someone was breaking into the house.
"His first thoughts were for Michelle’s protection and he acted swiftly.”
The source continued: “It was a traumatic experience for both of them but they are relieved that neither of them were injured.
“Mark did the sensible thing and stayed with his wife to make sure she was OK and they waited for police to arrive before leaving the room.
"It was a horrible thing to go through, particularly someone who is heavily pregnant.
“They are understandably very shaken up by what happened.”
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Another source added: “As well as alerting them, the security system also notified the police and they came incredibly quickly.
“Mark and Michelle came out of their bedroom when the police arrived and spoke to them. They also gave them access to the CCTV.
“This has been a truly horrible thing to have happened to them. It is a very special time with their first baby on the way and this has been very difficult.”
Experts said the villains could have been attracted to the house by the couple’s Instagram page, which details how they created their “dream home.”
The account, Wrightyhome, has 663,000 followers and has been viewed by millions.
Last week the couple and their home also featured in a glossy spread in Hello! magazine.
Ex-Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: “The vast majority of people will look at an Instagram page for the right reasons.
“But if you are going to put your home in the public spotlight then there will be wicked people who try to take advantage of that.
“They will analyse images of the property to look for weaknesses in security and utilise that for their own nefarious purposes.”
'RIGHT THING TO DO'
He praised Mark’s cool-headed response, saying: “Nobody should confront burglars as you never know what weapons they might have. Staying with his pregnant wife and ensuring she was OK was exactly the right thing to do.”
The day before the break-in, former Corrie star Michelle enjoyed a “girls only” day out at a top restaurant with Mark’s mum and two sisters and close friends.
Mark’s sister Natalya posted pics of Monday’s event and said: “We organised the perfect ‘girls only’ day before a baby Wright arrives.”
Mark and Michelle began building their dream home in 2020 — inspired by Hollywood properties and Georgian architecture — and it took two years to complete.
A pal close to the couple said Mark insisted a high-level security system was put in place.
The friend said: “He was keen to make sure the house was protected when he set up the Instagram page.”
They added: “He doesn’t like being away from Michelle and wanted to know she would be safe in the house if they were ever targeted. To know the system they have in place works so well has given him a huge peace of mind.”
FANS CAN PEEK IN
By Ellie Henman
MARK Wright set up an Instagram account so fans could see the couple “create our dream home” from scratch in 2021.
Wrightyhome’s 663,000 followers were treated to dozens of interior and exterior photos and videos of the house, which boasts a swimming pool, luxury gym and bespoke kitchen.
There are also aerial “before-and-after” shots of the Essex property, which was completed in 2023.
Mark’s last post on the account was as recent as February 8, when he shared photos of the “mind-blowing” staircase.
Companies who worked on the property have also shared pictures and videos online.
Mark’s wife Michelle Keegan told last year of the “sacrifices” they made to get it done.
She said: “It still gets me emotional. Because we’ve worked really hard for it. We’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices. I missed lots of milestones in my life due to work. Mark went to LA and we spent months apart, which was hard. But, it’s worth it.
“And the house — it’s also about security. Because you never know when all this is going to end.”
The break-in comes after The Sun revealed last month how burglars targeted upmarket homes in South West London which featured on the Ted Lasso TV show.
Yesterday a piece of temporary plywood could be seen covering one of 15 bifold patio doors at the back of Mark and Michelle’s home.
Former semi-professional footballer Mark comes from an entrepreneurial family and is estimated to be worth £15million.
He shot to fame on Towie before appearing on a string of shows, including I’m A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing.
He started dating Stockport-born Michelle in 2012, and they married three years later.
But they were regularly apart as Mark built a TV career in the US and Michelle worked on projects in South Africa, Malaysia and Australia for shows including Ten Pound Poms and Our Girl.
After announcing her pregnancy in December, Michelle told Grazia magazine: “I’m going to take a good chunk of time off to enjoy being a mum.
“I’m never normally at home in the summer, I’ve always been away working, so I can’t wait.”
An Essex Police spokesman said yesterday its investigation into the burglary was continuing.
He added: “It was reported four suspects had forced entry to an address, carrying out a search of the property before fleeing. Within eight minutes, our officers were on the scene.
"We are continuing to support and safeguard the victims and are conducting high-visibility patrols in the area.
“We are exploring a number of lines of inquiry including but not limited to forensic opportunities, CCTV and witness statements.
“Anyone with information should contact us as soon as possible.”
