Lionel Richie’s Beverly Hills mansion was the scene of an attempted burglary while the singer was inside, but luckily, no harm was done.
According to TMZ, Beverly Hills police responded to a call early Friday morning (Aug. 22) about a break-in at Richie’s home. The 38-year-old suspect was scared off by the star’s security system and fled before taking anything.
Authorities later arrested Michael John Bond on suspicion of residential burglary, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident adds to a growing list of celebrity home burglaries in Los Angeles. Just this summer, Brad Pitt’s iconic “Steel House” was broken into while he was away. Four suspects have since been arrested. Pitt has since moved on to a new $12 million L.A. property he purchased from The Killers guitarist Dave Keuning and his wife, Emilie.
In February, the FBI announced a crackdown on so-called “burglary tourism,” where organized groups—often from South America—target luxury homes in the U.S. “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,” the bureau said in a statement.
