Now Tamara heads for the slopes after £50m raid
SHE may have just been targeted in a £50million jewellery raid – but Tamara Ecclestone seems determined not to let it spoil her family’s Christmas.
The Formula One heiress, 35, yesterday shared a picture of her daughter visiting Santa Claus in Lapland, before they took a private jet to continue their holiday in Switzerland.
Miss Ecclestone and her businessman husband Jay Rutland, 38, had millions of pounds worth of jewellery stolen from their Kensington mansion in West London late on Friday night. Rings, earrings and an £80,000 Cartier bangle were taken.
The family had flown to Finland on Friday, documenting their holiday on social media. Apparently unruffled by the theft, Miss Ecclestone yesterday posted a picture of herself with five-year-old Sophia online with the caption: ‘We will continue full of love.’ They then flew by private jet into Bern in Switzerland, before taking a helicopter to a luxury Alpine ski resort.
The trio were spotted walking down the street with their dog Teddy. They stopped to buy a toy from a vending machine, and Miss Ecclestone kitted out her daughter with new skis, poles and boots believed to have cost over £600.
However their enthusiasm for sharing details of their whereabouts online came in for criticism. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, TV presenter Kate Thornton said: ‘Maybe the moral of the story is, if you’ve got £50million of jewels at home, don’t let people know you’re not there.’
Host Lorraine Kelly joked that the couple should buy from high street chain Claire’s Accessories to avoid being burgled. Mr Rutland condemned the comments, writing online: ‘Cheers Lorraine – I hope you never have the misfortune to be robbed.’ He also shared a cryptic message saying: ‘I know you are lying but continue.’
Miss Ecclestone’s father Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that the raid could have been an inside job. ‘It is certainly a concern that this will have been done by someone with an intimate knowledge of the house and security,’ he said. ‘Tamara is upset, she’s not happy with it at all. It’s not a nice thing to have to deal with but there’s not much you can do now. It’s being dealt with by the appropriate people so we will have to wait and see.’
The £70million property is patrolled by guards and has 24hour CCTV, while police officers from Scotland Yard’s Diplomatic Protection Group also guard the road. Despite the security, three raiders climbed a garden fence before entering the 57-room home and targeting the safes. A source told The Sun after the theft: ‘This is the most shocking burglary because it is one of the most secure houses on one of the most secure streets in London. Every single piece of jewellery that she had in her safe has gone.’
A spokesman for the family said: ‘I can sadly confirm that there has been a home invasion. Tamara and family are well but obviously angry and shaken.’ Detective Sergeant Matthew Pountney, from the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘A number of officers, including the dog unit, deployed to the residential property in Kensington.
‘However, the suspects had already left the scene when the call to police was made. At this time we are investigating this as an isolated burglary and we are retaining an open mind around other lines of inquiry.’