British family gassed at villa where Jenson Button and wife were robbed

A British family have claimed they were gassed and burgled at the same villa where F1 racer Jenson Button and his wife Jessica Michibata were targeted in St Tropez last week.

KS Mehta was staying with his family at the villa in 2013 when they experienced nausea and dizziness before turning off the air conditioning.

The 20-year-old told The Sun that the thieves threw towels over security cameras and took off with £150,000 worth of jewellery and goods as the they slept.

KS said: "They must have been watching us a few days.

"I didn't think anything of it until I saw Jenson's story in The Sun and pictures of the villa that Jessica uploaded on Instagram and realised it was the same villa."

Button and his wife were holidaying with friends at the rented villa when they were reportedly gassed during the robbery.

The Huffington Post reports that a spokesman for the racing driver confirmed that two men broke in and stole jewellery, including Jessica's £250,000 five-carat engagement ring.

The spokesman said: "The police have indicated that this has become a growing problem in the region with perpetrators going so far as to gas their proposed victims through the air conditioning units before breaking in.

"Whilst unharmed, everyone involved is unsurprisingly shaken by the events."

Related articles

British tourists gassed and robbed in camper van on France holiday

BBC golf presenter drugged and robbed in Spain