Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright experienced a terrifying burglary at their home on Tuesday night. The couple, who are awaiting the arrival of their first child, were forced to lock themselves in their bedroom as masked intruders targeted their £3.5million Essex mansion last night.
The former Corrie star and her husband reportedly heard the sound of their porch window being smashed, which was followed by the activation of their alarm system at their opulent residence.
An Essex Police spokesperson commented on Tuesday that the investigation into the burglary is still active. He explained: “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.”
He added: “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.”
It’s understood that Michelle, 37, and Mark, 38, were at home when the break-in occurred, with four balaclava-clad suspects entering the premises for approximately one minute. The couple’s security system alerted the authorities to the incident, reports the Mirror.
The burglars are reported to made a hasty exit in a getaway car after hearing Mark shout out. No one was injured during the terrifying event.
The couple has reportedly been left “very shaken up” following the raid, although they are grateful that nothing was taken and they are safe. A source told to The Sun: “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. They waited for police to arrive before leaving the room.”
The insider also noted that Mark “acted swiftly” upon realising the situation.
Their stunning abode is equipped with a bar, cinema room, sauna, gym, and even a five-a-side football pitch. Detectives suspect that the intruders were seasoned criminals aiming for a ‘big score’ at the lavish five-bedroom property.
Mark and Michelle bought their luxury home in 2019 for £1.3million and have been keeping fans updated on their refurbishments via Instagram, through their dedicated home account @wrightyhome. With nearly 700,000 followers, the account recently showcased the “mind-blowing” makeover of their spiral staircase.
The couple has also posted about updates to their garden, the addition of a swimming pool, driveway alterations, and more.
Following her announcement that she’s expecting her first child with Mark, Brassic actress Michelle has been relishing the early stages of motherhood away from the public eye. The couple tied the knot back in 2015, and Michelle has since disclosed that the early speculation about when they would start a family led to her decision to keep certain aspects of her life private.
“Around the time we got married, I was open about the fact that I wanted to have a family but then, because we didn’t choose to have children within a certain time, there was lots of speculation,” she confided to Grazia magazine. “I made the decision to not talk publicly about that side of my life. I’m going to be 38 this year and, as I’ve got older, I feel more confident about my boundaries.”
In a heartwarming Instagram post in December 2024, Michelle shared the news of her pregnancy. The photo featured the glowing actress holding her baby bump, dressed in a white maxi skirt and crop top, with a joyful Mark by her side on a sandy beach.
Her caption hinted at their excitement: “2025 is going to be a special one for us…” The announcement drew cheers and well-wishes from celebrity pals, including Corrie’s Helen Flanagan and TOWIE’s Sam Faiers.
The couple’s announcement came a whole 12 years after they first crossed paths. Mark found fame in 2012 on ‘The Only Way Is Essex’, while Michelle was known for her role as Tina McIntyre in ‘Coronation Street’.
Their romance sparked during separate holidays in Dubai, where they met through friends, but it seems their paths had intertwined before, with encounters backstage at The X Factor and at various events.
In a candid chat on Jamie Laing’s ‘Private Parts’ podcast, Mark opened up about the pursuit of his love interest: “Basically, she gave me the elbow for about a year, and then finally, I got my way after a lot of work. People were suspecting things, but we genuinely weren’t [dating],” he confessed. “And then about literally a year later of us bumping into each other, I finally sort of asked her out, and it went from there.”
It took a year after their initial meeting for the pair to make their relationship official at the British Soap Awards in 2013. Mark, clearly smitten, proposed just four months after they went public and nine months into dating.
He shared with us: “I’ve got now, for the first time in my life, what I’ve always wanted and what every boy dreams of – affection in a relationship, love, best friend, a girl I fancy… everything rolled into one.”
Mark popped the question during a holiday in Dubai, the city where their love story began. Prior to Michelle, Mark was engaged to his TOWIE co-star Lauren Goodger.
On the other hand, Michelle was previously betrothed to Max George, the former frontman of The Wanted.