How Celebrity Personal and Home Security lapses changed how we guard ourselves in an era of fame, 24 x 7 omnipresence and a world that never sleeps.
Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring” captivated audiences with the mesmerizing, well-dramatized story of teenagers sneaking into the lavish homes of Hollywood’s rich and famous. However, well beyond the silver screen, the movie also revealed a surreal reality where celebs once considered home security to be someone else’s responsibility and concern.
Inspired by a true story, the movie threw the startling lapses in celebrity home security into the spotlight. Stars like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Bilson, Megan Fox, Orlando Bloom, and Audrina Patridge discovered just how vulnerable their properties truly were when they were subjected to several high-profile robberies when the gang of LA teens went on their Hollywood crime spree between October 2008 and August 2009. The gang managed to scoop up over $3 million in luxury goods, with Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton luggage on the list, and handguns.
Surprisingly, “The Bling Ring” accomplished so much more than entertain audiences: it also spurred an important transformation in the world of celebrity home security, with a large number of Hollywood celebrities deciding to enhance their security with the help of security companies while adopting a more subtle way of discussing their prized possessions and residences.
Paris Hilton’s Spare Key Mistake
The movie revealed a fascinating detail about the unmistakable businesswoman, influencer, activist, and DJ: besides her massive collection of fuzzy boleros, she had the habit of leaving a spare key beneath the mat outside the front door. Any residential locksmith or security pro would immediately mark this as a critical mistake that can make any home extremely vulnerable in the hands of potential burglars. This was exactly the case for Nick Prugo and Rachel Lee, two of the five members of the “Bling Ring” gang who decided to rob her home using the spare key she left underneath the mat.
Initially, the duo took their time to play the heist, searching for Hilton’s home address online, using maps to study the terrain, and closely monitoring the internet to find out when the house would be vacant. Since the star didn’t initially notice anything missing, the two made a few more comebacks, relying on the key under the mat. It was only after Paris discovered her safe had been robbed that the star contacted the police.
Paris was the first victim of the gang. In a Vanity Fair interview, Prugo asked, “Who would leave a door unlocked? Who would leave a lot of money lying around?” emphasizing the reasons that convinced them to pick her home.
Orlando Bloom’s Security Fence Was Cut
In July 2009, The Bling Ring set their sights on Orlando Bloom’s home, driven by Rachel Lee’s desire for lingerie from Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr, Orlando Bloom’s wife at the time of the break-in. Prugo, along with Alexis Neiers, Diana Tamayo, and Lee, gained access to the property by simply cutting through the security fence surrounding the premises.
Audrina Patridge Left the Front Door Unlocked
Members of the Bling Ring burglarized Audrina’s home in Hollywood Hills in February 2009 during the Academy Awards ceremony. The crooks entered it using a door left unlocked and got away with expensive jewelry, a laptop, the model’s passport, and custom-fit jeans, all estimated at approximately $43,000. The surveillance cameras caught Lee and Prugo in action, and Audrina later uploaded the videos to her website.
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green Unlocked Patio Door
The gang didn’t have a hard time accessing the Fox/Green residence using an unlocked patio door, another critical security breach that often leads to home burglaries in the everyday life of regular Joes. They managed to steal jewelry and the SIG Sauer .380 semi-automatic belonging to Green easily. According to Prugo, the gang targeted the residence because Lee liked Megan Fox’s clothes.
Celebs Are Now More Vigilant
In the wake of the “Bling Ring” series of break-ins, Hollywood stars went through a much-needed wake-up call and triggered a shift towards privacy and protection in the Hollywood world. The younger community of stars, in particular, with Paris Hilton and the other victims of the gang on top of the list, made important investments in their home security after the dreadful events occurred. Namely, they hired extra security, installed advanced technology, including smart cameras and premium locks, to benefit from more layers of protection, and did everything in their power to make sure it would be much harder for someone to target their home again.
It is safe to assume none of them continue to leave their spare keys under the mat or the front door or patio door unlocked – all of which are common sense preemptive measures everyone, famous or not, should consider. The movie also started a dialogue regarding personal security, setting a reminder of the importance of adopting a well-grounded approach to home and personal security, regardless of celebrity status. This approach is the best defense against criminals seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities.
