Jenson Button and wife Jessica Michibata are 'gassed unconscious' during burglary at their holiday home in Saint-Tropez
The couple had £300,000 worth of jewelery stolen during the raid - including Ms Michibata's wedding ring
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button and his wife Jessica Michibata were gassed until they were unconscious by robbers who then stole jewellery and other items worth about £300,000 from their holiday home in France.
Three friends who were staying in the house in St Tropez were also knocked out by a canister of anaesthetic gas dropped into an air vent.
Button and Ms Michibata had been asleep at the time, but because of the effects of the gas they did not wake up as the gang moved around the house and near their bed.
A source close to Button, 35, who won the F1 championship in 2009, told The Sun newspaper: “Police have told Jenson they’re convinced the burglars gassed the house using the air-conditioning units.
“Over the past five years, it’s becoming an increasingly common way for top criminals to launch raids on expensive properties in the area without being disturbed.
“Jenson is convinced that’s what happened too. The burglars were in the same room as him and Jessica, rifling through all their drawers.
“But they weren’t disturbed at all because the effects of the gas gives the burglars free reign.
“It was the same for their three other friends - they were all completely out of it.”
The occupants of the house only discovered what had happened when they woke up in the morning.
Ms Michibata’s £250,000 wedding ring was among the items stolen by the thieves.
A spokesman for the sports star said: “Jenson, Jessica and friends were on holiday in a rented villa.
“Two men broke into the property whilst they all slept and stole a number of items of jewellery including, most upsettingly, Jessica’s engagement ring.
“The police have indicated that this has become a growing problem in the region with perpetrators going so far as to gas their proposed victims through the air conditioning units before breaking in.
“Whilst unharmed, everyone involved is unsurprisingly shaken by the events.”
French police have blamed gangs of foreign criminals who target the wealthy people who visit or live on the French Riviera.
In 2002, fashion experts Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine were the victims of one of the first notable gas attacks in the area.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments