Lionel Richie’s home was the target of an attempted burglary while he was inside. It’s good news for him and everyone else in Beverly Hills that the 38-year-old suspect has been arrested.
TMZ reports that the Beverly Hills Police Department received a radio call about a residential burglary at a home owned by Richie in the early morning hours of Friday (Aug. 22).
Richie was home at the time of the incident, but the suspect was scared off due to the singer’s security system. He left without stealing anything from the property.
Though the investigation is still ongoing, 38-year-old Michael John Bond was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary.
Burglaries in Los Angeles in recent months have been a problem for celebrities who live in the area. Earlier this summer, Brad Pitt’s home—the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom property known as “The Steel House"—was broken into when he wasn’t there. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime so far.
Pitt’s home is currently in escrow in an off-market deal (but not because of the burglary). He’s gone ahead and bought another home in Los Angeles from The Killers guitarist Dave Keuning and his wife, Emilie Keuning. The purchase price was reportedly $12 million.
In February, the FBI announced that it intended to catch groups of people that they believe are linked to Los Angeles’ burglary problem, which they’ve called "burglary tourism.”
"The FBI has spearheaded an initiative targeting South American Theft Groups by combining our nationwide resources and collaborating with our valued law enforcement partners to link commonalities and suspects of cases across the country," said the bureau in a statement. "While some victims of these brazen crimes happen to be professional athletes with careers in the spotlight, rest assured: the FBI is dedicated to protecting all Americans from violent crime—no matter their job description or zip code."