Jenson Button’s wife unlikely to return to the UK after $300k theft

Brittny Button, the wife of 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, says she has “no interest” in returning to the UK after being targeted in a brazen daylight robbery in London that saw a thief make off with over $333,000 worth of luxury items and sentimental belongings.

The shocking incident occurred in February, just after the couple had returned from a Valentine’s Day trip.

Brittny’s Goyard suitcase — filled with designer handbags, jewelry, and keepsakes — was stolen outside St Pancras Station while the Buttons were loading their luggage into a car.

"They Were Probably Watching Us"

Recalling the moment to the Daily Mail, Brittny said, “I was kind of shocked. How like unsecure everything felt [in London] just so many people, [and] so chaotic.”

She explained that Jenson had asked her to get into the car while he helped the chauffeur, and she briefly left her carry-on with him.

“I thought, ‘Should I have brought my carry on back here with me?’ Because Jenson can be a little bit like not super careful, too trusting and a little too relaxed.”

That small window was all it took, she recalled.

“He had his back on mine, and a guy just came and swooped it. We didn't even see him do it,” she said.

“So they were probably watching us. We had no idea until Jenson went, ‘Wait where is your bag’ and he raced off trying to find it, but he [the thief] was already gone.”

Brittny said she was left “traumatized” by the ordeal and flew back to California shortly afterward.

“I just started crying, I was a little upset with Jenson because I felt like he kind of dropped the ball a little but it's not his fault someone was watching us.”

Adding to the frustration, she revealed this wasn’t their first experience with theft in London.

“He also did get his bag stolen a few months ago in a car park in London … It definitely was shocking that I just didn't think.

“I'm normally pretty cautious when I'm out in public and traveling, but I just didn't think that there were gangs literally just waiting for people and watching.”

“If It’s Sentimental, It’s Sentimental”

Just days after the theft, authorities arrested a 41-year-old man who pleaded guilty to the crime. But by then, Brittny’s prized belongings had already been listed online.

“A lot of people assume, ‘Your husband bought you those’ but actually I bought about half of them and I worked really hard and to have someone come up to me and take them from me — it's just frustrating,” she said.

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“And I know people are going to say, first world problems, but whether you're getting robbed of something that's not worth a lot of value — if it's sentimental, it’s sentimental.”

She added, “My dad was a police officer, so I was raised not to steal from people. I would rather have less and feel good about myself than steal from people and take what isn't mine.”

With the trauma still fresh, Brittny made her stance clear: “I have no interest in going back to the UK.”

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