Richard Hammond’s wife speaks out about burglary and ‘gassing’ as the family were asleep in French holiday villa

'Gas attack': Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy had their French holiday villa raided
Dave Benett
Fiona Simpson3 September 2018
The Weekender

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Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond and his family were gassed during a raid on their holiday home in the south of France, his wife has revealed.

Sunday Express columnist Mindy described the ordeal as “a living nightmare” and said she woke during the raid but presumed noise was coming from other guests.

She said she had heard a door shut downstairs and went to investigate but “thought it was another couple staying up and went back to bed”.

Speaking to the Express, the 53-year-old said: “Actually, it was the burglars. That just makes my blood run cold. I could have easily walked in and it could have been unpleasant.”

Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy were targeted while on holiday in France, the columnist said
Dave Benett

The couple were unaware of the raid until days later when their 15-year-old daughter Willow noticed her watch was missing.

The Grand Tour presenter then realised cash was missing from his wallet and alerted his wife and other guests whose purses had also be emptied, Mindy told the newspaper.

She added: “I’m pretty convinced we must have been gassed or something, because they were in all of the bedrooms. You have got to have some kind of confidence to do that and to be quite satisfied that people aren’t going to wake up.”

The couple praised the “incredible” work of French police following the break-in last month.

According to the Express, two people were arrested over the raid 48-hours later.

Mindy added that the experience “did not ruin the holiday” but said it was “particularly worrying” that raiders had “rifled” through her teenage daughter's belongings while she slept.

“That’s not very nice at all,” she said.

The Evening Standard has contacted a representative for Richard Hammond for comment.

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