Burglar hits Paris Hilton's home, takes $2 million in jewelry [updated]

An estimated $2 million worth of jewelry and other belongings was stolen from the home of Paris Hilton, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The incident occurred at 5 a.m. at Hilton's Hollywood Hills home on Clarendon Street. The burglar, or burglars, got into the house through an unlocked door, according to LAPD sources, who spoke on  condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

According to detectives, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves ransacked Hilton's bedroom, took unknown property and fled, said Officer April Harding.

LAPD sources said they do not believe at this time that the incident is connected to infamous burglaries that have beset the Westside and Hollywood Hills and cost many celebrities hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry and other valuables.

In those cases, the two –- and possibly three –- men, clad in black and wearing ski masks and gloves, hit more than 70 homes in areas such as Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills and the hills above Encino, usually at night and often on weekends. The victims in those burglaries included former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing and her Oscar-winning director husband, William Friedkin, Clippers basketball star Cuttino Mobley, Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor and his wife, Juicy Couture President Gela Nash-Taylor, and country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Detectives from the LAPD's Van Nuys division were at the Hilton home this morning conducting interviews. The sources told The Times that Hilton was not home at the time of the burglary and that the house is equipped with security video equipment.

Harding said a security guard reported a forced entry at 5 a.m. at the Sherman Oaks home. The guard described the burglar as a man in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves.

Hilton recently told Esquire magazine: "The best thing I've ever bought with money is my house. Having a nightclub in your house really helps for having a party."

-- Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Paris Hilton attends the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel grand opening party on Nov. 14 in Miami Beach, Fla. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Comments

[Woody]

They got in through an unlocked door. That's funny. That was the easiest 2 mil those dudes ever made.

[Dennis Jackson]

It's people like her that makes crime pays? leaving the door un-locked

[Jeff]

Usually I'd say no one deserves to be burglarized but unfortunatelyI read an interview with Ms. Hilton recently about how she never wears the same outfit twice and how many "misconceptions" there are about her. Have at, guys.

[David U]

Burglars that hit high end homes, know how to unlock doors.
These type of burglars are professionals. He or they did not just pick out a house and walk in. It was watched, they knew when the security people would check, if people are home, if there is a loud dog, and probably about the alarm system.

[Amy]

Are you serious.What do you expect having an unlocked door in Los Angeles.

[Richard Gordon]

She must be devastated. Now she has to go to another 1000 discos and nightclubs to earn her money back.

[Mr Hate]

Unlocked door or forced entry? Which is it? It sounds like Paris filled out the report.

[olddog]

I wonder if it made her "Hot"?

[john]

She will probably claim that it was worth far more than what she might have paid for it so she can rip off the insurance company!!!!! Heh, heh.

[Jeff]

"The burglar, or burglars, got into the house through an unlocked door, according to LAPD sources..."

"According to detectives, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves forced entry through the front door..."

usually one must look to different articles to find inconsistencies.

[XOCHILT]

NO ONE DESERVES IT, BUT C'MON WHEN YOU LEAVE YOU'R DOOR UNLOCKED. IT'S LIKE YOU'R ASKIING FOR IT! PEOPLE LIVE AND LEARN, TRY CHECKING YOU'R DOORS AT NIGHT.......

[Tiffany]

I understand how much Paris is worth and she is spoiled beyond anything you or I can imagine, but, I dont think she desrves to get her house ransacked and items stolen from her. I think she is a sweet girl and to have a house invated will make her feel so unsafe in her own home. I feel for the girl. I hope she will recover from it and I wish her the best!

[O C Warren]

This is LA-style "share the wealth."

[kv]

Broke in or open door? Sherman Oaks or Hollywood Hills? Does anyone know how to take a police report here?

[Realist]

It Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Moron!!

[Lucky survivor]

I left the side door to my Hollywood apartment open and was wakened by a person who came in and decided to cut my hair as I slept. I woke up to a strange man trying to cut my hair with a pair of pinking-shears! My subsequent screams were enough to scare the guy away- lucky for me. I always lock my door(s) now!

[Steve]

What a crime ridden dump,what is the next step house invasions.

[paris hilton]

this is a sad day. wonder if she attend a press conference? what a dolt!

[catwomen4u]

i love u paris hope they catch these guys

[DR COMMON SENSE]

Blame it on the CRIBS tv show. that show gives burglars ripe ideas of what's inside the house.. also the tv show..IT TAKES A THIEF..encourages burglaries.

If law enforcment was smart enough to get these TV shows YANKED from the listinigs.. there would'nt be that many burglaries happening.

SO SOMEBODY UPSTAIRS THE TELEVISION NETWORK AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT NETWORK GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND YANK IT FROM THE AIRWAVES! Hollywood people DO HAVE THE MONEY TO SHUT DOWN these shows.

COME ON people.. where's YOUR COMMON SENSE!

[Pete]

I was amazed by your first sentence in the Hilton story: "An estimated $2 million worth of jewelry and other belongings was stolen from the home of Paris Hilton" Don't you think it would be more appropriate to say that the
jewelry and other belongings WERE stolen? You know.... compound subject and all that?

And you call yourselves journalists ! Oh well, schools aren't what they used
to be I guess.

[Jacob]

Obama's "Spread the Wealth" platform is beginning.

[IQ check]

Sounds like an inside job because 1.) why would someone with those kinds of valuables NOT have them in a safe, 2.) why is she living in a house without a perimeter fence & gate? 3.) was the security guard preoccupied doing bong hits and therefore unable to do anything?

[lolwut]

"a security guard reported a forced entry at 5 a.m"
"a security guard reported a forced entry"
"security guard reported"
"security guard"

what a great security guard

[kushka53]

What a dope she is. Who leaves their doors unlocked when they are not home? (or even when they are!)

[Alex]

ATTENTION WRITER! Your grammar is wrong, it should say, " An estimated 2 million worth of jewelry and other belongings WERE stolen." That was probably the most important aspect of this story.

[greg murphy]

apparently all the money in the world can't fix that lazy eye of hers.

[Jack]

Too bad for Paris. Though, Insurance claims will most likely pay her back, and raised premiums affect all of us.

[KELLY]

SHE IS A VERY SWEET GIRL.I HOPE THEY GET THE BUT HEAD THAT DID THIS.SHE WILL GET HER MONEY BACK.SHES HOT

[Charlie N]

Just because Paris is very wealthy, it doesn't mean that she deserves to have this happen to her. If it happened to any one of your family members, one of your mothers or whatever, you likely would not display such an attitude as you do for seeing it happen to Paris.

My question is if the security guard was there, and saw this guy, why didn't he do anything about it? It seems he could have prevented the whole thing if he had picked his spots wisely. Paris is an absolute sweetheart, and she did not deserve this, but thankfully she was not there, and she is safe.

[computersell26]

Those Burglar break in the rich people house better than some "POOR" people house anyway. Because they got a insurance cover the most. But poor people got no insurance cover and they got no money to buy stuffs.

Also poor people house got nothing to take anyway.

[Tony]

Okay, maybe it's just me, but come on...
$2 million... jewelry (and other items).....
let's get real about our concerns here.

[james]

Somehow I expect this kinds of things to happen to this rich air-headed bimbo and i don't feel bad that this has happened to her. If its other hard working ordinary people, I would feel bad but not for this low IQ girl who does not know the meaning of a dollar.

I think this kind of things will continue to happen to her as long as she wants to be in the bright lime light of the celebrity status. She should live quiet life away from media and public for her sake.

[Al]

The pity is that they are going to have to break up what are probably works of art to get rid of them. They may be difficult to move if the stones have laser ID marks in them.

I don't fault her for not locking the door, but I do fault her for not using a safe for storage.

[Romle Sotilrag]

I wouldnt mind if someone went through my back door, since it's almost always open. I never leave my front door unlocked though.

[Christina]

I'm thinking of changing professions!!!!!!!!
What a steal.
Like stealing candy from a baby.
can you blame them?
I bet it was someone who had been in her house before and knows her very well.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...
Maybe it was her new BFF! The girl was crying about not having enough money.

[Bryan]

HMMM, how many blonds does it take to lock a door? Sorry Pairs, but I just don't feel that sorry for ya... Maybe if you were home for a change, turning your alarm on, locking your doors, this probably wouldn't have happened. Do you know what a safety deposit box is???? (doutful)..

[Eponymous]

How can the same house be both a "Hollywood Hills home" and a "Sherman Oaks home"?
------
Editor's note: Parts of Sherman Oaks are in the Hollywood Hills.

[John]

For all of the comments regarding the grammar in the article,

such as:

"ATTENTION WRITER! Your grammar is wrong, it should say, " An estimated 2 million worth of jewelry and other belongings WERE stolen." That was probably the most important aspect of this story. "

"I was amazed by your first sentence in the Hilton story: "An estimated $2 million worth of jewelry and other belongings was stolen from the home of Paris Hilton" Don't you think it would be more appropriate to say that the
jewelry and other belongings WERE stolen? You know.... compound subject and all that?

And you call yourselves journalists ! Oh well, schools aren't what they used
to be I guess. "

You both are completely wrong. The grammar in the article was fine. "Jewelry and other belongings" is an APPOSITIVE not a COMPOUND SUBJECT. The subject in the sentence is $2 million dollars. "Was" is the appropriate verb. I'm a 17 year old in public school and I know that. How about you leave the writing to the journalists.

[Bored gurl]

Ha ha...she deserved it. I might feel sorry for her if she wasn't such a spoiled little brat who made a stupid TV show. No even then I still don't care, why is she even considered a celebrity?

[Ahmed]

Well! It happened because she is out all the time partying. $2 million to her is like $200 bucks. Feel bad though. This shouldn't have happened.

[phoenixandrew]

I'm willing to bet it was Tara Reid. This was payback for Paris snubbing her when she was allowed to walk into a nightclub and Tara wasn't.

[samantha]

just because this girl is hot and got loads of money that dont mean some stupid cali dudes come in and so what she left her door opened those sercurity guys should be watching her house and i hope the police find those jerks that didi that to paris. im so sorry this had happened to you paris if you want me to be your sercurity i would in god speed to you.

[david]

He was looking for her undies, found out she doesn't own any.

[George]

Very suspicious and unusual for a robbery to take place in a high profile guard gated community. How did the robbers get access to the community and where are the cameras showing all cars coming and going at the gate? Something just doesn't add up!

[mbspringer]

Obama's "Spread the Wealth" platform is beginning.

Posted by: Jacob | December 19, 2008 at 01:17 PM

NO, THATS MADOFF

[FreshMeatz]

smells like insurance fraud, she must be going broke now big daddy warbucks Baron cut her off.

[carol]

iiam sorry i dont think this should happen to anyone

[Michelle]

In my years of socializing, I have learned that people who usually get robbed are those that have many guests over, maids, or other types of strangers in their homes. I so not think that it is a wise idea for miss Hilton to have any parties at her home. Keep that stuff away from your residence. That is what clubs are for.

[Anne]

Did she not have a maid or someone living there looking after he house? Never leave your jewelry in a bedroom. Find a safe but unusual place to hide them when not worn-I do and sometimes, I forget where I put them.

[NP]

From an English teacher:

"Jewelry" is the noun of the sentence. Therefore the verb "was" is the correct verb form. In this sentence, jewelry is the subject with which you want the verb to agree. You wouldn't say the jewelry were stolen.
The journalists and their copy editors at the Times are indeed correct.
NP

[pbrain]

who gives a toss

[joe the moralist]

are any tapes missing?

[Maria]

$2 millions are nothing for Paris Hilton. It's time more Paris to shopping again!

[Christi]

Man! What a bunch of haters! You 'outta be ashamed of yourselves for EVER saying ANYONE deserves to have their home invaded, burglarized. Let it happen to you and see how differently you feel. It won't matter that 2 mill or 2 cents was stolen, the feelings of insecurity and violation are horrible and long-lasting. If you've ever been a victim of a crime like this, ("hot" or not, rich or poor) you would hate less and sympathize more. Sometimes we rush and leave a door unlocked (we all have) by accident, but that DOES NOT mean we "get to" be robbed because we're "morons" for doing so. It's traumatic to come home and discover your private bedroom ransacked or walk out of the store and your car is gone. We live in a terrible world wherein "security" seems nonexistent. Also, I don't think Paris has ever needed to consider insurance fraud. She's probably above that. She pays premiums just like us 'regular people.' She liked her bedroom the way she had it and wanted to come home to it the same same she left it-just like ANY of us would want! Stop hating! And start praying for our country. It's going to hell on a fast train loaded with theives, perverts, aholes, and haters running over innocent people along the way!

[setobe]

Paris Burglary appears to have been someone who was involved.
Who would know any of the things that the burglar knew?
What she had, where, who would be watching the house?
Who would know no one was there or where to find whatever?
That all suggested the burglar was someone she was involved
with recently. This is much the same as the recent Sam Thefty burglaries.
The is why those of known wholly defective character should be kept out of any personal involvement.

[LilyC]

I was once scolded by a police officer for leaving the door from the garage to the house unlocked expecting the closed garage door to keep people out. He explained that is one of the easiest ways for a burglar to enter the home and most people leave that door unlocked. All they need is a garage door opener and they can cycle through the codes until a door on the street opens.

[JOJO DANCER]

Couldn't happen to a nicer idiot. I hope her family invested all their investment funds in that Bernard Madoff guy. These people deserve to be ruined.

[Joe]

All the hater comments here shows how terrible people can be. It doesn't matter if you leave your door un-locked or if you can afford to lose $2 million worth of property.

[Eric]

So for leaving the door unlocked does this make Paris the burglar's new BFF????

[RJ]

Maybe Lee Baca (Sheriff) should take over the case!

[Eric]

Doesn't The L.A. Times have newsworthy events to report that are relevant to readers. The space devoted to this fluff story could have been used to cover any number of incidents of corruption that permeate our government. People are just ignorant and don;t expect much from news media I suppose.

[JJ]

WoW. Ever since my uncle car stuff got rob in Compton. I don't leave anything open in L,A,, Compton, Beverly Hills or Bakersfield or any other city. Before I use to leave my car open with the window close in Compton and look what happen, I only drive a old 2006 Yukon. But, Paris Hilton who has 2million worth of jewlery should always have precaution and have securities everywhere she goes. Even in the OC.

[Lizina]

What luck? Doesn't she have a security system? With all the money this Hilton family has they have little to no home security?
We have crime in Nevada as well. Lots of crime, including crimes committed by some in law enforcement. http://www.nevadacorruptions.com

[hansel is so hot righ now]

Only a matter of time before someone puts morons and money together.

[papipooh]

whoever took the stuff.please return it to her.im serious ,shes such a sweety.doesnt deserve that.dont be mean..

[Christian Aleman]

Im sadden by this act of greed, but im more saddened by the posts on here. Some of you people are cruel and vicious, so quick to lash out at this girl's misfortune. Shame on you, for forgetting she is human too. For forgetting karma goes around . . . and comes around.
My heart goes out to you Paris.

-Christian Aleman

[Firdes K.]

That's what you get for being greedy Paris, sex sells, Paris Hilton your a perfect example to young teenage girls, and so are the woman/ well not real woman that dance in front of the cameras half naked for music videos, and the ones that do dance naked and sell there bodies, they are not real woman and never will become close to a real woman, ever in this life time, these that sell their bodies are whores, yes whores, that are already judged, sluts, whores, same thing, there all judged, and all these rich people out there, they go to sleep worrying about there money, I mean, no wonder why you see Micheal Jackson and ll the famous people on the news here in America, they all want the cameras on them, stop supporting big industries, stop buying new car's when you really don't need a car, as heard before, everyone knows California is not going to brake off, it's San Andreas Fault that will flood, and half of the west coast will be gone, this is what scientist predict, that's all.

[Eddie]

WHO CARES!!! I can't believe that with SO much going on in the world and in our back yards - we have to hear about this tramp! What a joke!

Happy New Years!