Following Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard's house burgling, only the last in a long chain, the football club announced on Thursday that it would enhance the security at their players' houses.

As the midfielder was away playing in the Champions League against Marseille on Tuesday, helping the team qualify for the knockout phase with a 4-0 win, his wife faced four thieves with masks hiding their faces, while their two children were sleeping in their rooms. The four raiders stole a Rolex watch and two car keys.

"The club takes this extremely seriously and we will be looking at ways to provide cover for the players' houses while they are away with the club on domestic and international duty," said Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton.

The police believe that the attack is linked with previous brake-ins at the homes of Pepe Reina and Dirk Kuyt, while Jerzy Dudek, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Florent Sinama-Pongolle’s homes were also targeted in 2005 and 2006.

The superintendent Phil Scarth, expressed the Merseyside Police’s sympathy towards Gerrard’s family and declared that they will be provided with crime prevention advice, while a thorough investigation will be carried out.

"We are now working closely with the individuals affected as well as the club to offer crime prevention and personal security advice as well as stepping up security around footballers homes. The force is taking a co-ordinated approach to look into all the incidents, as we take all reports of burglary seriously," Superintendent Scarth said.

"We are linking these incidents as the incidents have taken place while they have been away at fixtures. Those affected have been targeted because they are wealthy and it is known that they will be away from the UK for specific fixtures,” he added.