European 5000m medallist Eilish McColgan has been left “upset and angry” after thieves broke into her house on Wednesday.
The Scottish long-distance runner has been in Sweden preparing for Thursday’s Diamond League race, with partner Michael Rimmer leaving their house in Manchester at 8am on Wednesday to join her.
However, their house was robbed just hours later, with the thieves taking “jewellery, British Athletics medals and some commemorative medals from (the) Olympics and Commonwealth Games” amongst other valued items.
The 28-year-old took to twitter to express her outrage, with fellow athlete Tom Bosworth as well as her mother and former Olympic medallist Liz McColgan-Nuttall tweeting their support.
Upset & angry..our house has just been robbed! Michael left 8am to join me in Stockholm &by the time his dad came round at 4 it had been trashed. Dog is safe -they locked him in lounge. No idea what’s stolen aside all my jewellery &few medals. Some real arseholes in the world!😡
— Eilish McColgan (@EilishMccolgan) May 29, 2019
McColgan has expressed fears that this may not be an isolated incident and may have been carried out by a gang that regularly roam around her local area.
“Everything’s been turned upside down,” says the Scot “all of the furniture overturned and you can’t see the floor for stuff that’s been thrown about.
“My boyfriend had left to join me in Stockholm at 8am and when his dad came to look after the house at 4pm, it had been broken into.
“In the area there have been around 30 break-ins and car thefts in the space of just a few weeks and we think the same gang may be behind it all.
“They might have been watching the house, as it seems a bit of a coincidence that they broke in right after my boyfriend left.”
It is understood that Greater Manchester Police have been contacted about the incident.
This necklace is something they’ve stolen! Alongside all my other jewellery, British athletics medals and some commemorative medals from Olympics & Commonwealth Games! Please keep an eye out for these items around Manchester if you can! pic.twitter.com/xUKXZY1kFJ
— Eilish McColgan (@EilishMccolgan) May 29, 2019
McColgan meanwhile will have to swiftly turn her attention back to the Stockholm Diamond League, which sees her take part in the women’s 5000m against the likes of world champion Hellen Obiri.
