Police are investigating after the Radlett home of soccer star Dennis Wise was targeted by burglars, who stole his FA Cup medals and England caps.

The ex-Chelsea captain was on holiday with his family in Florida, when his rented home, in a gated, executive close off Watford Road, was broken into late last week. A cleaner discovered the raid, and Hertfordshire police were alerted shortly after midday on Thursday.

Mr Wise's agent, Eric Hall, said this week: "His medals and caps have all been taken, we believe. He is not very happy."

The Leicester City midfielder is understood to have lost his 21 England caps, his three FA Cup medals and a European Cup Winners' Cup medal, as well as £50,000 of jewellery.

The 35-year-old father told a tabloid newspaper it was terrible he could not enjoy having the awards on show in his home without them being stolen.

The burglary has increased fears that Radlett is being targeted by criminals, some travelling via the M25 or on trains from London, because of its affluence, at a time when fewer police are seen on the beat in the village.

Radlett was named as one of the top five wealthiest places in Britain, in a recent study by market analysis company CACI.

The burglary has prompted Radlett businessman Barry Allsuch to call for more police patrols in the village.

Estate agent Mr Allsuch said the lives of too many Radlett residents had been "made a misery" by the harrowing experiences they had been subjected to by robbers and burglars - crimes he believes have increased since the closure of the village's police station two years ago.

He called for extra police patrols, including police cars keeping an eye on Radlett's back streets, adding: "Dennis Wise is probably the tip of the ice-berg".

Mr Allsuch stressed it was no fairer for wealthy Radlett residents to be victims of crime than anyone else, adding: "The majority of my clients who live in the most expensive houses are self-made.

"Most are from working-class backgrounds, who have worked, and worked and worked to achieve things in life. I cannot remember the last time I saw a police officer on foot in Radlett they used to walk up and down in pairs and you felt a bit better.

Aldenham East's Councillor Stuart Nagler said: "One does wonder what we are being offered in Radlett in terms of police presence."

Sgt Nat Landau, of the Bushey-based community team, said Radlett is patrolled by cars from Borehamwood, and foot patrols are targeted to problem areas rather than randomly patrolling. The village has a community officer dedicated to it.

Sgt Landau added: "We are under resourced, and hopefully, as our numbers increase, our ability to get out there more will increase."

June 19, 2002 16:30