Formula One star Jenson Button and wife 'gassed' as burglars raid holiday home
Formula One star Jenson Button and his wife Jessica were reportedly gassed as they slept during a burglary.
The Sun newspaper reported that a gang "pumped fumes" through the air conditioning of the couple's Saint-Tropez villa where they were staying with friends.
Everyone escaped "unharmed", a spokesperson for 2009 World Champion Button said.
ITV News correspondent Duncan Golestani reports:
However, thieves made off with a number of items of jewellery, including "most upsettingly" Jessica's engagement ring.
The ring was believed to be worth around £250,000.
McLaren driver Button, 35, married model Jessica in Hawaii in December, having been dating since 2008.
A police spokesman for the region confirmed Button learned of the burglary "as he woke up" and that nobody was hurt.
Philippe Guemas, deputy prosecutor in Draguignan, told Europe1 radio: "To our knowledge there has never been a burglary like this in St Tropez where gas was used to knock out the victims.
"Nothing has been established. Jenson Button's entourage has made this claim as the driver didn't feel well the following day.
"We have taken blood samples which will be analysed."
St Tropez, in the south of France, has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous.
It is not the first time gas has been mentioned in reference to a burglary in a wealthy area of the country.
In 2006 footballer Patrick Vieira, his wife and daughter were the victims of a raid on their family home near Cannes.
The family complained of feeling unwell after the burglary and it was later confirmed gas had been pumped into the air conditioning system of the house to keep them asleep while they stole jewellery.
Home security expert Dave Sanders told ITV News "gassing" has been a technique used by burglars on the continent for several years.
Mr Sanders, managing director of Justice Fire and Security, said the gas can leave victims unconscious for six to eight hours.
"If you have been gassed they can spend all night breaking in and making as much noise as they like," said Mr Sanders.
"From the criminals point of view it is an easy steal, they simply inject the gas into the property via an open window or even a letter box whilst the occupants are asleep.
"The gas is readily available, they can pick it up from anywhere, it's cheap and hassle-free.
"The only thing you can do is use physical security, so put bars on all the windows so even if you are gassed they can't get into the property, or install a gas detector that can raise an alarm and deter the burglars.
"It tends to be holidaymakers who are targeted because they are perhaps a little bit naive of the area and these things happening, whereas the people who live there protect themselves."