Criminals have been targeting millionaires on the exclusive St George’s Hill Estate.

In the past six months there have been eight crimes, according to a Freedom of Information request made to Surrey Police, including a suspected shotgun robbery.

The crimes include one incident of criminal damage, one non-domestic burglary, two robberies, two thefts or handling of stolen goods, one vehicle crime and one crime of violence without injury.

The estate is the home to Russion oil tycoons and hedge fund managers, but past residents have included John Lennon, Tom Jones, Elton John and Cliff Richard.

Each house is required to have at least one acre of land and boundaries cannot be marked by fences or walls, only by hedges and bushes.

According to St George’s Hill Residents’ Association website, the estate is a “secure and private location”, and security barriers are placed at each entrance.

But for some the temptation has proved too much, as the crime figures would suggest.

Elmbridge resident Luke Temple said: "It makes me laugh, all that security and they still have people breaking in.

“I guess your neighbours are quite far away if you live in a place like that, so you don't have people looking out for you like you would in a small cul-de-sac."

But Elmbridge councillor Peter Harman said: “They’ve got their own security on the estate and I don’t think the crime rate is as high as it appears.

“It’s not an issue that has been raised with me specifically.

“They have cameras that monitor traffic going in and out, and all the cars are recorded, so it should be easy to trace people.”

Police are still appealing for witnesses to an aggravated burglary on the estate on September 17.

A mother and son were tied up during the robbery by a man suspected of carrying a shotgun, just before midnight. The man, who was wearing a balaclava, threatened the woman, who was in her 30s, and her teenage son, before searching the house for valuables.

He escaped with cash and expensive jewellery and paramedics attended the address to treat the boy who sustained minor injuries.

Only one man was seen, but police have not ruled out that more may have been involved.

Anyone with any information should call Surrey Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

An estate resident, who did not wish to be named, sid: "Whilst on the whole I believe the security is very good on the estate, I would not wish to be on my own at night as the estate is rather isolated and I know there have been a couple of attempted break-ins in the last few months."