12:29 29 September 2009
A gang forced down the front door of the singer Gwen Stefani's £2.5 million London home, it has been reported.
The music star shares the upstairs flat with her husband Gavin Rossdale, but the thieves could not access that property, taking off with jewels from their downstairs neighbour, media executive Dame Liz Forgan.
Forgan, a former Channel 4 and BBC chief, was not home when the break-in happened in Primrose Hill, north London.
She has refused to comment, stating only that she wasn't at home at the time.
Stefani was performing in Singapore at a concert when the break-in happened at around 11.30pm on Saturday night.
A neighbour who did not wish to be named, said: "We were in and my son had his friends over they were down in the basement.
"All of a sudden, we heard a really loud crashing sound outside at about 11.30. I thought it was the kids downstairs – I thought a bookcase had been knocked over or something.
"I yelled down but they said they didn't do anything so my husband went outside, but as he did our porch light blew out.
"He looked around and he didn't see anything and so we came back inside. Later he took some rubbish out but didn't see anything.
"I was just really shocked that somebody would be that bold to do something where there is a lot of lighting, traffic and people around on a Saturday night.
"We are going to upgrade our security after this. Other neighbours said there has never been a problem here but we will be more cautious now."
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said police were alerted yesterday to an "insecure door".
She added: "There had been forced entry at the address and the flat within it had been burgled. Inquiries continue." So far no arrests have been made.
Stefani lives at the property with her partner Rossdale, who fronts rock group Bush, and their two children.