Shocking moment masked thug 'tries to break in to Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren's home' by pounding his glass door with a SLEDGEHAMMER - as the star was at a Champions League game

  • Footage shows men approaching Dejan Lovren's home before door is smashed
  • Burglars also broke into Sadio Mane's property, both located in Merseyside
  • A Merseyside Police spokesman today said: 'It is not known yet if anything was stolen during this second incident but the occupier has been informed' 

This is the moment a thug was filmed smashing in the window of Liverpool star Dejan Lovren before fleeing the scene.

The shocking footage, taken during the team's Champions League tie, shows one man walking towards the property, pointing at it before another man runs in and appears to smash in a patio door.

Shards of glass are seen crashing down on to the ground as the first man stands back with his hands on his head.

Footage appears to show a man smashing in the patio door of Liverpool star Dejan Lovren

Footage appears to show a man smashing in the patio door of Liverpool star Dejan Lovren

Officers said burglars also broke into Sadio Mane's property later on that evening while the pair were watching a game at Anfield

Officers said burglars also broke into Sadio Mane's property later on that evening while the pair were watching a game at Anfield

He then appears to point at something inside the house and the two run away.

Officers arrived at the home and soon discovered Sadio Mane's nearby house had also been targeted. 

Detectives are now appealing for information over the raids - the latest to target the family homes of Merseyside footballers.

Officers were called to Lovren's Allerton address at around 8pm on Wednesday night - just 15 minutes after the Reds kicked off against Maribor at Anfield.

A woman at the property reported three offenders had smashed a patio door before fleeing when she shouted at them, telling them she was calling police.

The shocking footage, taken during the team's Champions League tie, shows one man walking towards the property, pointing at it before another man runs in and appears to smash in a patio door

The shocking footage, taken during the team's Champions League tie, shows one man walking towards the property, pointing at it before another man runs in and appears to smash in a patio door

Shards of glass are seen crashing down on to the ground as the first man stands back with his hands on his head

Shards of glass are seen crashing down on to the ground as the first man stands back with his hands on his head

A Merseyside Police spokesman today said: 'It is not known yet if anything was stolen during this second incident but the occupier has been informed.'

Police scrambled a force helicopter in response to the incidents, leading to a search of the surrounding area - including the nearby cemetery.

With both recovering from injury, neither Mane nor Lovren were in the squad for Liverpool's 3-0 victory over the Slovenian side, but both were watching the match.

The police spokesman added: 'The investigation by detectives is in its early stages but it is believed the offenders fled in a car and officers would appeal to anyone who saw a vehicle being driven suspiciously in the area at around 8pm to contact them.'

He then appears to point at something inside the house and the two run away. Officers arrived at the home and soon discovered Mane's nearby house had also been targeted

He then appears to point at something inside the house and the two run away. Officers arrived at the home and soon discovered Mane's nearby house had also been targeted

Police scrambled a force helicopter in response to the incidents, leading to a search of the surrounding area - including the nearby cemetery

Police scrambled a force helicopter in response to the incidents, leading to a search of the surrounding area - including the nearby cemetery

Last night's incidents are the latest that have seen Merseyside footballers targeted.

A 'hooded gang' raided Roberto Firmino's Liverpool home just before Christmas of last year, with the thugs stealing jewellery, watches and clothes valued at £70,000.

Firmino was moved to a hotel with his wife and two young children following the raid, after which the club placed a security team at his home.

And a man tried to raid Everton forward Wayne Rooney's £6m Cheshire mansion in August 2016 while the then Man Utd player was at his own testimonial match.

With both recovering from injury, neither Mane nor Lovren were in the squad for Liverpool's 3-0 victory over the Slovenian side, but both were watching the match

With both recovering from injury, neither Mane nor Lovren were in the squad for Liverpool's 3-0 victory over the Slovenian side, but both were watching the match

Last December Robert McNamara, then 25 and from Scarborough, was jailed after he admitted attempting to enter Rooney's home as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Six Reds players, including Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger had their Merseyside homes targeted in a spate of raids over an 18 month period spanning 2006 and 2007.

Those incidents each took place on matchdays, typically while the victims were involved in European or international games, and led to police offering personal security advice to Reds players.