On 14/7, American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband were found shot dead in their Encino, Los Angeles, villa. Police have arrested a 22-year-old Encino resident.

Nearly a week before the murders, police visited Kaye's home after receiving a report of an unidentified person attempting to break in with a gun. However, at the time, security personnel found no suspicious activity.

The tragic double homicide and a series of recent sophisticated home invasions have put Hollywood on high alert.

Robin Kaye and her husband purchased the Encino villa in 2023 for 4.5 million USD. Photo: LA Times

Robin Kaye and her husband purchased the Encino villa in 2023 for 4.5 million USD. Photo: LA Times

According to experts, cameras and alarm systems are no longer enough to deter these groups.

"They use signal jamming devices, which you can buy for a few thousand USD. It jams the signals to your cameras, alarms, and cell phones," said celebrity security expert Kris Herzog, owner of Bodyguard Group in Beverly Hills.

"Everything goes dead, as if you were home and turned off the alarm. Then, the burglar disguises themselves as a gardener and shows up a few hours before or after the real gardener. They come in through the same gate and fill bags with your valuables. I’ve heard there are about 50 or 60 of these signal-jamming groups operating in Los Angeles, and none of them have been caught," Herzog said.

Celebrities and athletes are often targeted because their public lives make it easy for news-savvy thieves to know when they are away competing or promoting films overseas. Sources say they also use drones to surveil their targets.

For instance, Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Yasiel Puig had his home burglarized four times in 10 months, including twice while he was playing at the stadium.

In June, Brad Pitt's home in a gated community was targeted by thieves who climbed over a fence.

In February, the Los Angeles home of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban was broken into by someone who smashed a glass window. It's unclear what was taken.

Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mother, had her Hollywood Hills home burglarized in 2023, with thieves making off with a safe containing 1 million USD in cash and jewelry.

Over the years, rapper Drake has endured being held at gunpoint, a Toronto home invasion (during which a security guard was shot), and a break-in at his Benedict Canyon mansion in 2023.

In 12/2023, Keanu Reeves’s Hollywood Hills home was broken into by ski-mask-wearing thieves who smashed a window. In 2024, three of the actor’s watches, including a Rolex worth 9,000 USD, were recovered in Chile.

Los Angeles police have warned of a rise in South American gangs operating in the city. These gangs often enter the US as tourists, carry out organized thefts, some even stealing to order, and then quickly depart, with the stolen goods shipped separately. Police are often unable to identify or match fingerprints or DNA of the foreign intruders.

Jeff Zisner, president and CEO of Aegis Security and Investigations, stated, "The reality is the wealthier and more famous you are, the bigger the target you become."

Brad Pitt's luxurious Los Angeles villa. Photo: MEGA

Brad Pitt's luxurious Los Angeles villa. Photo: MEGA

According to the Hollywood Reporter, security costs for celebrities can reach six or seven figures. However, considering the numerous criminal cases in recent years, it's considered a worthwhile expense.

The importance of celebrities having security personnel—rather than relying solely on alarm systems—was recently highlighted by an incident at Jennifer Aniston's 21 million USD Bel Air mansion.

In May, a man in his seventies allegedly rammed his car into Aniston's gate while she was inside. A security guard held the intruder at gunpoint until police arrived and arrested him.

In Tyler Perry’s case, thermal camera systems and a 24/7 security team repelled intruders from his property before they could use their break-in equipment, which included bolt cutters, a saw, and a crowbar.

Tue Anh (according to Nypost)