While we hear of (mostly) Liverpool players having their homes invaded and their prized possessions stolen (the victim list now reads: Lucas Leiva, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Xabi Alonso, Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Jerzy Dudek), the tables have often turned.  Millionaires too decide to steal. Don’t judge them; they’re obviously trying to get by on whatever comes their way…

Albert Craig

Unfortunately, the first incident in this countdown is the most serious. Chronic gambler Albert Craig, the ex-Newcastle footballer was jailed for 12 months in 2005 after stealing more than £40,000 from a Postal Depot where he worked at. The former Partick Thistle player reportedly spent £69,000 in a casino that same year.

Warren Barton and Rob Lee

The two former Newcastle footballers were arrested after allegedly stealing a Mercedes E220 in a night out. The duo then reportedly crashed the luxury car into a van on Hackney Road before fleeing the scene. Luckily for the duo, the owner of the car did not want to press charges and they were let off.

Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Dyer

The hapless Southampton duo were arrested on the 26^th of March 2008 in connection with an alleged theft from bags in a staff room at a nightclub at the Bar Bluu nightclub in Southsea, Hants. Hampshire police launched an investigation after two men were filmed on CCTV entering an unlocked staff room in the early hours of February 28.

Naturally the duo took heed of cameras by rooting through the bags of barmaids. The club hosted R&B star Kano that night, and later reported three mobile phones, £145 in cash, student cards and cigarettes stolen from three handbags. The former was cleared due to insufficient evidence, while Dyer was handed 60 hours of community service.

Glen Johnson and Ben May

Last February, Glen Johnson, on loan to Portsmouth from Chelsea at that time had the wonderfully bright idea of stealing a toilet seat amongst other things, when earning a reported £30,000 a week. Perhaps he had visions of a looming credit crisis and took the relevant action.

The full-back tried to put a toilet seat into a box with a cheaper price tag, in full view of a security guard. Aided by criminal mastermind Millwall striker Ben May, he also hid a set of taps underneath a sink at the checkout to avoid paying for them. The two players were both handed £80 fines on the spot, but should have really been jailed for pure idiocy.

Lucas Viatri

This Boca Juniors striker was accused of robbery aggravated by the possession of weapons. What was so precious that he needed weapons and support to steal? Apparently, the items in question were a pair of scissors and hairspray from a local hairdresser; his brother and friend were assisting him.

Generally the punishment fits the crime, and in this case, the stupidity of Viatri saw him spend a month in prison during the preliminary investigation – for scissors and hairspray! The incident may have done the striker good, as he scored 7 goals in 12 games upon his return.