New York police have informed us that a repeat offender was arrested Sunday night for stealing Christmas presents from Robert De Niro’s home.
New York City Police Department was monitoring the 30-year-old woman, who was “known for multiple burglary arrests,” when she saw her enter “through a basement door that showed signs of a burglary” into an apartment in the upscale Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan , a police spokesman told AFP.
It was the residence of Robert de Niro, the famous American actor who was born in New York and is known for his roles in films about his city such as Taxi Driver or Mean Streets.
Police entered and “discovered the woman in the living room” in full “attempt to steal property,” the spokesman added.
According to media outlets ABC News and NBC News, the suspect was even using herself at the base of the Christmas tree when police surprised her. She was arrested “without incident,” police said. According to NBC, police saw Robert De Niro appear “in his bathrobe,” alarmed by the noise.
The 79-year-old De Niro, who has had numerous roles in gangster films (The Godfather II, Goodfellas, Heat, Casino), is also known for his involvement in the revitalization of southern Manhattan Island after the September 11, 2001 attacks, particularly through Co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.