England footie ace Joe Hart has phone and wallet snatched by moped bandits

ENGLAND goalkeeper Joe Hart has been robbed by  a gang of moped bandits.

The West Ham star, 30, had his smartphone snatched by three scooter-riding thieves who pounced on him close to the club’s training ground.

Xposure

It’s thought the gang struck last week after Joe  returned from England’s World Cup qualifier in Lithuania[/caption]

The gang are also  thought to have taken a wallet and watch.

It is understood the robbery came last week after Hart  returned with the England World Cup squad from their match in Lithuania.

One close associate of the 6ft 5in goalie — on loan from Manchester City — said it happened near a  ­petrol station shortly after he  left West Ham’s training ground in Rush Green, near Romford, Essex.

A source said: “There were three robbers on two bikes and they surrounded him as he got into his car and took his  phone.

The Mega Agency

Three looters on scooters targeted the West Ham and England keeper[/caption]

Rex Features

The robbery comes just two months after Hart’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen from the driveway of his home in Bowden, Cheshire[/caption]

I think they also got a  watch and a wallet.”

Another   added: “Joe wasn’t hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He’s a big powerful guy and it took some nerve to rob him. If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England  it can happen to anyone.

“He is relieved that he didn’t come to any serious harm.”

Louis Wood - The Sun

The 6ft 5in goalie is believed to have been targeted near West Ham’s training ground[/caption]

Getty Images - Getty

Joe is relieved he came to no serious harm in the attack[/caption]

The robbery comes just two months after Hart’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen from the driveway of his home in Bowden, Cheshire.

It also follows an incident which saw Hammers striker Andy Carroll’s  £22,000 watch snatched from his wrist by a motorbike blagger at traffic lights in North East London.

A   robber pulled up next to Carroll’s Jeep soon after he  left the club’s training ground last November and told him, “Nice watch”.

Thinking it was a prank by a pal, Carroll  replied “Thanks” before an object he believed to be a gun  was pointed at him and he was ordered to hand over the timepiece.

PA:Press Association

In an attack similar to that suffered by Hart. Hammers striker Andy Carroll’s  £22,000 watch snatched from his wrist by a motorbike blagger at traffic lights in North East London[/caption]

PA:Press Association

Jack O’Brien, 22, from Romford, got six years’ jail at Basildon crown court last month for crimes including robbing Andy Carroll[/caption]

Carroll roared off to escape and later said in a victim impact statement  he  was “in fear of my life”.

Jack O’Brien, 22, from Romford,  got six years’ jail at Basildon crown court last month, plus five years and three months for other robberies.

Sources stressed that Hart did not appear to have been deliberately targeted.    One said: “There is no suggestion at this time that they were deliberately going for Joe. It seems to have been  opportunistic.”

An agent for Hart declined to comment. The star played for the Hammers against Brighton last night, conceding two goals in the first half.