Sol turns his home into a fortress

13 April 2012

Sol Campbell has installed a £100,000 security system as he turns his home into a fortress. Arsenal may also consider hiring a minder for him as the hate campaign by Spurs fans intensifies.

Campbell's move from Tottenham to rivals Arsenal has provoked an angry backlash from Spurs supporters. His mobile telephone number has been posted on message boards of football internet sites, with fans being urged to bombard him with abusive calls and messages.

It was reported today that a woman had been arrested in Cheshire for breaking into the penthouse flat of England captain David Beckham for the second time.

But Campbell is one step ahead of the mob. He called in a security firm to make his £500,000 Hertfordshire home impregnable four weeks ago. As well as intruder alarms, his home now has numerous panic buttons, infra-red sensors, CCTV inside and out and security lighting. It is monitored by an alarm receiving centre.

A spokesman for ADT Fire and Security said: "The alarm is linked by a phone line to our Alarm Receiving Centre, where a team of professionals monitors properties 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The spokesman refused to comment on the devices installed in Campbell's house but said the company had wide range of equipment. He said: "This can include an intruder system, movement or vibration sensors, panic buttons, sensors that detect breaking glass and contact sensors that detect if any windows or doors are opened."

Campbell is having the house extended into a five-bedroomed home. Planning permission was granted in June and workmen have been building a fitness room, plunge pool steam room and a lounge-breakfast area, with two new rooms above.

One of Campbell's neighbours said: "There have been lots of workmen coming and going for months now because he has been really doing the place up. There's been all sorts of things done and there is an extension being built.

"It is very quiet around here and I don't expect we'll get anyone coming round here yelling or anything like that, but you don't spend £100,000 on security unless you think you need to."

But a local man, who refused to be named, warned: "There's a lot more Tottenham fans round here than Arsenal fans and after what he's done Campbell is going to need a 24-hour security guard standing out-side his drive, not just an alarm."

Arsenal will consider whether Campbell needs a minder. Manchester United provided one for Eric Cantona when he joined them from Leeds and there are secret but extensive security measures for Beckham.

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Sol turns his home into a fortress

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