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HE WAS ROBBED

England footie ace Joe Hart has phone and wallet snatched by moped bandits

The West Ham star, 30, was targeted by three scooter-riding thieves who pounced on him close to the club’s training ground in East London

ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart has been robbed by  a gang of moped bandits.

The West Ham star, 30, had his smartphone snatched by three scooter-riding thieves who pounced on him close to the club’s training ground.

 It's thought the gang struck last week after Joe  returned from England's World Cup qualifier in Lithuania
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It's thought the gang struck last week after Joe  returned from England's World Cup qualifier in LithuaniaCredit: Xposure

The gang are also  thought to have taken a wallet and watch.

It is understood the robbery came last week after Hart  returned with the England World Cup squad from their match in Lithuania.

One close associate of the 6ft 5in goalie — on loan from Manchester City — said it happened near a  ­petrol station shortly after he  left West Ham’s training ground in Rush Green, near Romford, Essex.

A source said: “There were three robbers on two bikes and they surrounded him as he got into his car and took his  phone.

 Three looters on scooters targeted the West Ham and England keeper
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Three looters on scooters targeted the West Ham and England keeperCredit: The Mega Agency
 The robbery comes just two months after Hart’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen from the driveway of his home in Bowden, Cheshire
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The robbery comes just two months after Hart’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen from the driveway of his home in Bowden, CheshireCredit: Rex Features

I think they also got a  watch and a wallet.”

Another   added: “Joe wasn’t hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He’s a big powerful guy and it took some nerve to rob him. If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England  it can happen to anyone.

“He is relieved that he didn’t come to any serious harm.”

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 The 6ft 5in goalie is believed to have been targeted near West Ham's training ground
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The 6ft 5in goalie is believed to have been targeted near West Ham's training groundCredit: Louis Wood - The Sun
 Joe is relieved he came to no serious harm in the attack
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Joe is relieved he came to no serious harm in the attackCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The robbery comes just two months after Hart’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen from the driveway of his home in Bowden, Cheshire.

It also follows an incident which saw Hammers striker Andy Carroll’s  £22,000 watch snatched from his wrist by a motorbike blagger at traffic lights in North East London.

A   robber pulled up next to Carroll’s Jeep soon after he  left the club’s training ground last November and told him, “Nice watch”.

Thinking it was a prank by a pal, Carroll  replied “Thanks” before an object he believed to be a gun  was pointed at him and he was ordered to hand over the timepiece.

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 In an attack similar to that suffered by Hart. Hammers striker Andy Carroll’s  £22,000 watch snatched from his wrist by a motorbike blagger at traffic lights in North East London
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In an attack similar to that suffered by Hart. Hammers striker Andy Carroll’s  £22,000 watch snatched from his wrist by a motorbike blagger at traffic lights in North East LondonCredit: PA:Press Association
 Jack O’Brien, 22, from Romford, got six years’ jail at Basildon crown court last month for crimes including robbing Andy Carroll
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Jack O’Brien, 22, from Romford, got six years’ jail at Basildon crown court last month for crimes including robbing Andy CarrollCredit: PA:Press Association

Carroll roared off to escape and later said in a victim impact statement  he  was “in fear of my life”.

Jack O’Brien, 22, from Romford,  got six years’ jail at Basildon crown court last month, plus five years and three months for other robberies.

Sources stressed that Hart did not appear to have been deliberately targeted.    One said: “There is no suggestion at this time that they were deliberately going for Joe. It seems to have been  opportunistic.”

An agent for Hart declined to comment. The star played for the Hammers against Brighton last night, conceding two goals in the first half.

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