It seems shocking to read that Keanu Reeves, with access to the best security a rich movie star can buy, would still find his home being invaded by burglars.
But early Thursday, the “John Wick” star became the latest celebrity whose Los Angeles-area home has been hit by a gang of burglars. Every few months over the past six or seven years, some celebrity is in the news because their home has been broken into, with thieves making off with up to millions in jewels, artwork, clothing and other luxury goods.
Reeves was not home when masked burglars broke into his Hollywood Hills property and fled with a firearm, TMZ reported. The Los Angeles Police Department first responded to an anonymous call about a possible trespasser at the “Matrix” star’s property around 7 p.m. Wednesday, but found no one there, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Officers headed back to Reeves’ home some five hours later when an alarm started blaring at 1 a.m. Thursday, TMZ reported. This time, police spotted multiple men in ski masks on security cameras smashing a window and entering the contemporary mansion, estimated to be worth around $7 million.
Police said the thieves took one firearm from the home before fleeing, the report said. Police speculate that the call made on Wednesday evening may have been prompted by someone scoping out the house.
This isn’t the first time Reeves’ home has been broken into, the New York Post reported. In 2014, he dealt with two back-to-back intrusions by people who weren’t burglars but female fans consumed by an unhealthy obsession with him, TMZ reported at the time.
The first was a woman in her mid-40s who broke into Reeves’ home while he was sleeping and fell asleep in his library chair, TMZ reported. When Reeves woke up, he calmly talked to the woman, then called 911. A day later, another woman allegedly walked into his home through an unlocked door while he was not at home. She undressed, jumped into his shower and skinny-dipped in his pool, before a cleaning crew called police. Both women were taken into custody and were given psychological evaluations.
Earlier this year, Reeves and his partner, Alexandra Grant, obtained a temporary restraining order against a 38-year-old man who falsely claims he is related to the actor, TMZ also reported.
Back in 2017, LAPD was dealing with what was described as an “epidemic” of celebrity home burglaries, which felt reminiscent of the break-ins committed by the infamous “Bling Ring” in 2008 and 2009, Architectural Digest reported. In 2017, the reported victims included Kendall Jenner, Alanis Morissette, Nicki Minaj, L.A. Lakers star Nick Young, L.A Dodger Yasiel Puig and director Michael Bay.
Police created a special task force devoted to catching the intruders, but security experts told AD that increased police presence wasn’t the only — or even the best — way for high-profile individuals to improve security at their homes.
Celebrities have continued to be targeted by burglars, even though you would think their properties would have been transformed into impenetrable fortresses, with high walls, gates and high-tech cameras.
In 2019, for example, thieves broke into Mariah Carey’s Los Angeles mansion and made off with $50,000 in goods, including pricey purses and sunglasses, while the singer was out of town, Wonderwall.com reported. More recently, police last January arrested a burglar who broke into Drake’s Los Angeles mansion, Wonderwall.com said. And, in July, thieves broke into the home of Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mother. The thieves made off with a safe containing more than $1 million in money and other valuables.
