Lionel Richie has recently been identified as a victim in the ongoing series of residential burglaries affecting high-profile individuals in Los Angeles.
In contrast to several recent incidents involving celebrities whose residences were targeted while unoccupied, Mr. Richie was reportedly present inside his Beverly Hills home at the time of the attempted intrusion.
According to a statement provided to TMZ by the Beverly Hills Police Department, officers received a report of a burglary at the 76-year-old singer’s residence shortly after midnight.
The property’s security alarm system was activated during the incident, prompting the intruder to flee the premises before any valuables were taken.
The Daily Mail reported that it had reached out to Mr. Richie’s representative for comment, though no response had yet been received.
Law enforcement officers responding to the burglary call reportedly apprehended an individual identified as Michael John Bond on suspicion of residential burglary. As of this writing, formal charges have not been filed against the suspect. Authorities have stated that the investigation remains ongoing, with detectives currently reviewing security camera footage from Mr. Richie’s property along with other evidence recovered at the scene.
This incident follows another recent high-profile burglary at the Los Feliz residence of actor Brad Pitt in late June. In that case, the intruders allegedly timed the break-in to coincide with Mr. Pitt’s overseas trip to Japan, where he was promoting his film F1, which has been described as both a critical and commercial success.
Law enforcement subsequently announced the arrest of three individuals suspected of involvement in the Pitt burglary. Investigators reportedly linked the suspects to the crime after identifying their connection to a separate burglary and utilizing security footage from Mr. Pitt’s residence.
Police later clarified to NBC Los Angeles that the suspects did not appear to be deliberately targeting celebrities.
Following the incident, Brad Pitt was subsequently reported to have placed the residence that had been burglarized on the market.
In a separate occurrence late last month, Teddi Mellencamp became the target of an attempted burglary. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member disclosed that the suspects were deterred by a security system installed by her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave’s security company.
Ms. Mellencamp later released security camera footage depicting several individuals scaling a fence and approaching the side of her residence before retreating in haste once the alarm system was activated.
Earlier this year, in February, Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban were likewise identified as victims of a burglary. Their Beverly Hills residence—purchased in 2008 for a reported $4.7 million—was broken into while they were away. The intruder allegedly gained access by breaking a window, but was ultimately deterred by an employee who was present on the property at the time.#newsafro_
