Star's Range Rover stolen by letterbox thieves

A notorious gang of car thieves who target celebrities have stolen a £70,000 car belonging to actor Sean Bean. The 45-year-old star was targeted for the second time in recent weeks as they made off with his Range Rover.

The gang hooked the keys off a table at his north London home using a fishing rod poked through the letterbox before making their escape.

Bean - who is set to return to his role as swashbuckling Sharpe for ITV - was said to be "incensed" after burglars stole ?500 of belongings during a recent raid on his home.

They ransacked the property, in a cobbled street close to Belsize Village, but left behind his DVD player after being disturbed.

Officers investigating the latest attack believe the gang were watching the star's movements. Bean, who bought the 4x4 after using a similar one in the gangland movie Essex Boys, is believed to have been filming in Los Angeles with Sissy Spacek and Woody Harrelson.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are investigating the theft of a motor vehicle stolen at 6am on Wednesday 9 March. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of a private residence in NW3."

It follows a series of raids on celebrities including former Chelsea star and Millwall manager Dennis Wise. His sister and her children were terrified when burglars struck at his ?2million home in Denham, Bucks. Last week Christie Goddard, the girlfriend of EastEnders star Shane Ritchie, grappled with thieves as they attempted to steal her Freelander from a petrol station in Denham.