James Hird’s Toorak mansion broken into and car stolen while he and his family slept

JAMES Hird has spoken of his relief that no-one was hurt after brazen thieves raided his Toorak mansion while he and his family slept, stealing his luxury car and electronics.

JAMES Hird has spoken of his relief that no-one was hurt after brazen thieves raided his Toorak mansion while he and his family slept, stealing his luxury car and electronics.

Speaking after a lunch promoting the country game between Essendon and Geelong, Hird revealed he, his wife Tania and their four children had been asleep while their house was broken into.

“We were at home (and) someone came and broke into the house, stole the keys to the car,” he said.

“It was a bit scary. We woke up this morning there was no car; not ideal but luckily no one was hurt.

“We were asleep upstairs. My son woke up and saw the door open and closed it, it’s all good — no one is hurt

“We just have to find our car.”

James Hird arrives home this afternoon. Picture: David Caird

Hird arrived home this afternoon, telling reporters his family was “very safe”.

His daughter Stephanie also arrived at the house, but did not comment.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Creina O’Grady said it was believed offenders entered the home between 12am and 1.30am this morning.

James Hird pictured at the Country Football lunch where he revealed the burglary. Pic: Michael Klein

“Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding an aggravated burglary in Toorak overnight,” Ms O’Grady said.

“A silver Audi Q7 station wagon, registration XCA-676, was stolen.

“The occupants, who were home at the time, were not disturbed during the incident.”

Hird lives at the property with his wife Tania and their four children Stephanie, Tom, William and Alex.

Police are now hunting for the car in the hope it will lead them to the burglars.

According to SEN, Hird was visibly shaken when speaking about the incident at the luncheon event.

Police are hunting the Hird family car which was stolen in the burglary

James Hird leaves his house in Toorak last year

It’s the latest incident in what’s been a difficult few years for Hird.

The former Bombers coach and star was embroiled in the Essendon drugs supplements scandal, which saw him suspended from coaching.

Hird was taken to hospital following an overdose in January last year, later revealing his battle with depression after spending five weeks at the Albert Road Clinic.

News of the burglary comes days after Hird spoke out about the mental health battle he had endured following the supplements saga.

Last week, the 45-year-old spoke about his dark days and finding the light again.

He said he wanted to normalise depression and encourage discussion about “what can happen inside your head when it gets really dark”.

“When you are truly down in the dark deep depths of depression, it feels like there is no way out,” he said.

“You cannot see how you are going to get out when you spend two or three days in bed and you can’t move, when your brain just won’t let you out of that cycle.

“The reason why I feel very comfortable talking about it is that it has happened to me, I have come out the other side, I feel like I am a better person because of it.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

James Hird pictured out side his home

JAMES HIRD TIMELINE

1992 – Hird debuts for Essendon.

1996 – Hird wins the Brownlow Medal.

2002: Suffers horrific facial injuries in an on-field clash that saw his skull and eye socket fractured.

2007 – Hird retires from football after 253 games and two premierships at Essendon.

September 2010 – Hird is appointed senior coach of Essendon after the sacking of Matthew Knights.

2012 – Essendon win eight of their first nine games under Hird before fading away badly and missing the finals.

February 2013 – Essendon self-report to the AFL and ASADA about a controversial supplements program the club took part in.

August 2013 – Hird is suspended from football for 12 months for his role in the supplements program. Hird spends time in France at a business school while he is suspended.

October 2014 – Hird returns to coaching.

July 2015: Hird ends up in hospital after a bicycle accident near his Toorak home. He hit his head on the road and knocked himself out, despite wearing a helmet.

August 2015 – James Hird is sacked following the club’s 112-point loss to Adelaide.

January 2017: Admitted to Albert Road Clinic for five weeks following overdose of sleeping pills while battling depression.

May 2018 – Toorak home is broken into by brazen burglars while Hird and his family are asleep inside.

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