EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa has spoken out about the terrifying burglary at her holiday villa, admitting it “was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life.”
The actress and her husband Dan Osborne, were on holiday in Marbella with their children Ella, nine, Mia, five, and Dan’s son Teddy, eight when the incident took place last Monday.
Two masked robbers broke into Jacqueline and Dan’s holiday rental as they slept, and stole £20,000 of jewellery and belongings, including her engagement ring.
Now, Jacqueline has broken her silence, recalling the heart-stopping moment she thought the children had been kidnapped.
EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa speaks out on villa robbery
In a new interview, Jacqueline detailed the horrific ordeal that saw masked men, who allegedly had something “long and sharp”, raid their property while the family slept.
I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life
“I was trembling and couldn’t really speak as I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life and instantly thought, ‘Oh my God! The kids! Did he have a child in his hand? Did I see a little girl’s leg?’ I couldn’t think straight and was panicking,” she told The Sun.
Recalling the night, Jacqueline shared how she was struggling to sleep. She was alerted by the sound of “something metal dropping to the floor.”
Jacqueline Jossa ‘in complete shock’
Jacqueline, who said she sleeps with the door shut, then realised her bedroom door was wide open. She noticed a torch light and got up to inspect. Jacqueline then discovered a man in a balaclava and gloves who ran “straight down the stairs” when he saw Jacqueline.
Each time I close my eyes and think about it
Revealing she was in “complete shock” Lauren then woke up husband Dan. He raced downstairs and grabbed a snooker cue to protect his family as he inspected further.
Jacqueline feared kids were kidnapped
However, according to Jacqueline, the thieves escaped through the back door before. They then drove off in a waiting getaway car.
This could be a missing persons’ case
Meanwhile Jacqueline “frantically ran” to check on the children. Fortunately tucked up in their beds. However, she admitted she had to touch them to “reassure” herself they were there.
Reliving the nightmare, she continued: “Each time I close my eyes and think about it, I’m imagining them running away with a kid. This could be a missing persons’ case and that would have been a totally different story.”
EastEnders star Jacqueline, who has since moved to a hotel for the remainder of their stay, also revealed how things could have taken a more serious turn.
Later on, and reviewing CCTV footage, she spotted one of the masked men carrying something “long and sharp” with Jacqueline not sure if it was a knife or a “massive screwdriver.”
It has been reported that Spanish police are investigating the raid. What’s a more, a vehicle belonging to a security firm has also been seen outside the villa.
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