Guy Ritchie's London-based TV set has been targeted by thieves for a second time, with reports claiming £1 million worth of camera equipment was stolen.
The 56-year-old director is said to be furious over the repeated break-ins on the set of The Associate, his Paramount+ project featuring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan.
In response, the director has reportedly fired the previous security team and brought in a new firm to tighten security measures and prevent further incidents.
A source told The Sun: “These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again. The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money.
“They'll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders.
“The Associate is being filmed in and around the city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing. Guy is confident it won't throw filming off but it's been a hard lesson for everyone involved.”
The Standard has contacted Guy Ritchie’s rep for comment.
It was revealed last week that the first break-in occurred while the production crew and security were present on set in London.
Two men in a Toyota Prius reportedly distracted staff by asking for directions before speeding off with expensive camera equipment, as per The Sun.
A source added: “The security guards were going bananas—they’d been robbed in broad daylight. It was embarrassing and a costly mistake. The equipment used on these productions isn’t cheap.”
Plans for Ritchie’s new series The Associate were revealed earlier this year. The show’s synopsis teases a story about "two generations of gangsters, the businesses they run, the intricate relationships they navigate, and the fixer they rely on to solve their problems."
The British filmmaker will be banking on its success, following the positive reception of his earlier drama The Gentleman, released this year.
In July, his hit series set a Netflix record, racking up 44 million views within just four weeks.
