Four teenagers have been apprehended following a series of celebrity-targeted burglaries in Los Angeles, police announced. The suspects, comprising two 18-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and a 16-year-old, are believed to be members of a street gang and are connected to various theft incidents that have rattled high-profile residents.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell reported that investigators discovered stolen items during a search of the suspects’ homes, which confirmed their suspected involvement in burglarizing not only Brad Pitt's residence but potentially those of other stars such as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, as well as athlete Yoshinobu Yamamoto and former soccer player Olivier Giroud.
The investigation into these crimes initiated in late June after Pitt's home was invaded by masked thieves. McDonnell detailed how the suspects gained access by jumping over a security perimeter and smashing a window, stealing valuables before fleeing the scene. Although the police did not officially verify the property as belonging to Pitt, the address aligns with a new investment he made earlier this year.
At the time of the incident, while Pitt was promoting his latest film, F1, he was not at home. The burglaries have raised serious concerns among celebrities, with police noting the suspects employed sophisticated techniques, including positioning surveillance cameras in public areas to monitor their targets and using wi-fi jammers to disable alarm systems.
The LAPD cautioned that public figures are often more vulnerable due to their public appearance schedules, heightened presence on social media, and the inadvertent clues shared online, which can signal their absence from home to opportunistic criminals. The police chief advised caution for anyone sharing travel updates and personal location information through social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of privacy in safeguarding against potential thefts.
