British Formula One star Jenson Button and wife 'gassed' during terrifying $630k robbery

British Formula One star Jenson Button and his model wife Jessica Michibata are believed to have been knocked out with gas during a brazen robbery in which thieves made off with more than A$630,000 worth of their possessions.

The couple were in a rented villa in the glitzy French coastal resort of Saint-Tropez with friends when the bandits struck.

Ms Michibata’s ring, reportedly worth $525,000 alone, was one of the items stolen.

"Two men broke into the property whilst they all slept and stole a number of items of jewellery including, most upsettingly, Jessica's engagement ring," a spokesman for Button said.

French police believe the thieves may have operated by pumping gas into the house through the air conditioning.

"The police have indicated that this has become a growing problem in the region with perpetrators going so far as to gas their proposed victims through the air conditioning units before breaking in," the spokesman said.

"Whilst unharmed everyone involved is unsurprisingly shaken by the events."

British newspaper The Sun reported that valuables worth £300,000 (approximately A$633,000) were stolen in the raid.

Button, 35, is currently signed to team McLaren and lives in Monaco, along the Mediterranean coast from Saint-Tropez.

He and Ms Michibata met in 2008 and were married in December last year.  

The pair’s personal fortune is estimated at around A$150 million.

With AFP.