They’re planning to build an underground escape tunnel to ramp up security at their £6 million Cotswolds mansion, following two attempted break-ins in 2018 that had left them “shaken”.
And insiders tell Closer that the extreme move has been sparked by Posh, who is nervous about staying at their sprawling nine-bedroom country retreat alone when husband David Beckham moves to Miami – the home of his MLS soccer team Inter Miami – once the lockdown is lifted.
A source says, “Vic’s petrified at the thought of staying there without David. After discussions with their security team, they’ve decided to implement some military-style measures, insisting money is no object when it comes to their safety.
“While she loves the remoteness of their country pad, she hates being there alone and doesn’t want to have to avoid the home she calls her ‘sanctuary’ when David’s gone for months at a time.”
Posh, 46, and David, 45, have been self-isolating at the estate alongside their three youngest children, Romeo, 17, Cruz, 15, and eight-year-old Harper. Meanwhile, their eldest son Brooklyn, 21, has been in New York with girlfriend Nicola Peltz, 25.
The couple were said to be “terrified” after a notorious gang with an alleged history of murder were suspected of carrying out raids on the home in November 2018. Following the ordeal, the pair – who reportedly installed a panic room at their £30m west London mansion – erected a “prison-style” razor wire fence around the property.
They are now reportedly planning an underground link between their home and a garage outbuilding – as well as a wine cellar – which would give them an escape route to their car.
Insiders recently told Closer that the fashion designer – whose reputation has been dragged through the mud over recent weeks amid the furlough scandal and criticism over her pricey new beauty range – is keen to move back to the US with David, on the advice of her friend, Meghan Markle, 38, who quit royal life for LA earlier this year to escape the constant backlash.
But pals say that, although that’s still her long-term plan, the star – who lived in LA from 2007-2013 when David played for LA Galaxy – won’t be able to join him at their new £42 million luxury penthouse in the city any time soon.
The source says, “The boys are at a crucial time at school, with Cruz studying for his GCSEs and Romeo for his A-levels, so she doesn’t want to interfere with their education.
“While she understands David has to leave for work, she doesn’t want him to while she has all these fears. It doesn’t make it any easier.
“Now the lockdown’s starting to ease, she’s upset at the thought of this comforting bubble she’s been in the last few weeks, with David by her side 24/7, coming to an end.”
Check out: celebrity splits that shocked the world
RADIO Celebrity splits that shocked the world - slider
1 of 25Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Singer Miley Cyrus split from actor Liam Hemsworth in August 2019, despite only getting married in December 2018. Liam released a statement on Instagram, reading, ''Hi all. Just a quick note to say that Miley and I have recently separated and I wish her nothing but health and happiness going forward.'This is a private matter and I have not made, nor will I be making, any comments to any journalists or media outlets. Any reported quotes attributed to me are false. Peace and Love.'
2 of 25Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris seemed very loved up with each other, until they split in 2016 and ended things on very bad terms! Calvin even ended up having a Twitter rant about his ex.
3 of 25Jake Roche and Jesy Nelson
Despite popping the question to Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, Rixton frontman Jake Roche couldn't make his relationship work with Jesy, causing the pair to split in 2016.
4 of 25Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
After two years of marriage, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux announced their split in February 2018. Jen said, "We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."
5 of 25Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
After meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their marriage was over in April 2018. Revealing they are still great friends, the couple decided it was time to go their separate ways after almost nine years of marriage.
6 of 25Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty
Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty split in April 2018, despite being engaged. Speaking in early May, Jake appeared on Lorraine and said the couple are having time apart to focus on their busy work schedules. However, Jake did add, "There's not a bad word. I was with her on Monday, we still talk and I still love her to bits, but sometimes you've got to go away to come back."
7 of 25Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville
After meeting on Love Island 2017, things seemed to be going very well for Gabby Allen and former Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville. But in May 2018 allegations that Marcel had cheated on Gabby whilst they were on holiday together surfaced, leading Gabby to reportedly 'dump' Marcel.
8 of 25Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller announced they had split up in May 2018. The couple had been together for two year and even recorded some duets together. They reportedly chose to end their relationship due to their busy work schedules.
9 of 25Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne
After a two year romance and a baby boy, Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne announced they'd decided to go their separate ways on Sunday 1st July 2018. Releasing a joint tweet, the statement read, 'We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.' [sic]
10 of 25Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead and Josh 'JP' Patterson
Despite welcoming their daughter India into the world in 2017, Made In Chelsea stars Binky and JP announced their shock split in September 2018. The couple, who vowed to remain friends with their daughter being their number one priority, released a statement on Instagram.
.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
11 of 25Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson
Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson reportedly split in October 2018 after being engaged for four months.
12 of 25Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Hollywood actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt announced their split in August 2017. The pair shocked the world as they always seemed so loved up at events since marrying in 2004.
13 of 25Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
When 'Brangelina' announced they were getting a divorce in 2016, fans were left in shock. The pair had been dating since 2004 and married in 2014. They have six children together.
14 of 25Fergie and Josh Duhamel
Fergie and Josh Duhamel's split rocked fans in September 2017. The couple said, "With absolute love and respect we decided to separate." The pair were married for eight years.
15 of 25Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik popped the question to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, but just a few months later Zayn dumped his fiancé by text!
16 of 25Dougie Poynter and Ellie Goulding
Hearts broke all over the world when Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter announced their split. After rekindling their romance for a few months, they finally called it quits in 2016. Ellie is now engaged to Caspar Jopling.
17 of 25Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Another massive shock in the world of celeb relationships! Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012 after six years of marriage. The pair share their daughter Suri together.
18 of 25Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
After 10 years of marriage, actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The split became famous because the former couple bizarrely entitled it 'Conscious Uncoupling.'
19 of 25Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split in 2010 but have since remained great friends and co-parent their children.
20 of 25Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Pop superstar Lady Gaga shocked her fans in 2016 when she revealed herself and her partner Taylor Kinney were 'taking a break' after a five-year relationship.
21 of 25Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
They were one of Hollywood's hottest couples, so it was a major shock to fans when Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom announced their split in 2013. The pair had been married for just three years.
22 of 25Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
Professor Green split with former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh in 2016, just three years after they married. Millie is now dating her ex-boyfriend Hugo Taylor.
23 of 25Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale ended their marriage in 2016. The couple have three children together, Zuma, Apollo and Kingston.
24 of 25Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
They went through a number of ups and downs but Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's relationship ended after four years of marriage, with Khloe filling for divorce from the basketball player.
25 of 25Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler separated back in 2012 after nine years of marriage, but it took until 2016 for the couple's divorce to be finalised!
In February, the mum of four stayed at her parents’ Essex home while David and Brooklyn were in the US – a move friends told Closer was prompted by her security fears.
The source says, “With the boys also at an age where they want to be out with their friends and with Brooklyn likely to stay in New York permanently, the idea of being home alone with Harper has been giving her a huge amount of anxiety. David’s assured her he’s taking it seriously, hence submitting planning permission for the new passageway.”
Read more celeb news
Kate Garraway's husband tests negative for Covid after 10 weeks in ICU - but may never recover
The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan shows off jaw-dropping abs after 'cutting out the three Bs'
Watch: Love Island’s Dani Dyer on getting her first wax - OUCH | My First Times
The former Spice Girl has been the victim of numerous kidnap plots and death threats since her time in the spotlight. In January 2000, she was forced to move to a secret location after police exposed a plot to kidnap her and a then 10-month-old Brooklyn for a £5 million ransom.
Following the terrifying ordeal, David – who was then England’s biggest football star, playing for Manchester United – vowed to overhaul their security, adding “The first role of a father and husband is to keep his family safe.”
Two months later, her fears were further magnified when a suspected assassin was thought to have broken into rehearsals for the Spice Girls’ BRIT awards performance, after a red laser light appeared on her chest.
In her 2001 autobiography Learning to Fly, she revealed she thought she’d been shot during their live performance, following months of death threats and receiving silver bullets with her name on them from a sick stalker.
Describing the moment she realised the loud bangs on stage were in fact red balloons popping, she said, “Tears of relief were pouring out of my eyes as I realised I wasn’t dead. I was so convinced I’d been shot I actually looked for bullet holes.”
Two years later, another kidnap plot was infiltrated by a tabloid newspaper, but the case was dropped when the witness was deemed unreliable.
And insiders say Posh’s deep-rooted anxieties – which were recently heightened even further after Tottenham player Dele Alli was robbed at knifepoint at his north London mansion – still haunt her.
The source adds, “Vic’s never escaped the past and feels those fears will never leave her. She’s petrified of history repeating itself, but David’s assured her he’ll take every precaution – even if it means doubling their security spend and having military-style protection – to ensure her physical and mental wellbeing. It’s helped put her mind at ease.”
Read even more celeb stories in Closer magazine each week. Can't get to the shops? No problem. Find out how to get Closer magazine at home.