What You Can Learn From Celebrity Home Invasions

10-celebrity-home-invasions

What You Can Learn From Celebrity Home Invasions

property-crime We have good reason to be concerned with security. According to the FBI, there were over 8 million property crimes in the United States in 2014 alone. Property crime accounted for a net loss of $14.3 billion in the same year. On average, a burglary results in a loss of around $2000.

Considering such alarming statistics, many people are scrambling to install security systems for their property. The last thing anyone wants is an intruder invading the sanctity of their home. Many victims of home invasion are no longer comfortable in their homes and report feeling that they have been robbed of more than material goods — they have been robbed of their security.

People today are especially interested in installing the same security systems that famous people use. Unfortunately, not every famous person takes security seriously, which is surprising because their wealth and fame make them easy targets. Considering how powerful security systems for mansions can be, and how much celebrities have to lose — not only in terms of wealth but also in terms of personal privacy — you’d think security would be their number one concern.

With the security systems of the rich and famous in mind, we’ve collected ten of the most astounding stories about celebrity home invasions. Some are goofy, some are bizarre, and some are simply head scratchers. The perpetrator was caught in each case, but a single question remains: Do you want to catch the burglars before they make it into your home, catch them red-handed trying to get away, or hope that someday they finally slip up? For all of these celebrities, they can only ask themselves in hindsight. For you, however, the choice is yours with the right security system.

1. Paris Hilton (2008)

 Living a life of luxury without earning it, Paris Hilton has become the epitome of conspicuous consumption. She’s always sure to make an appearance at the most exclusive parties wearing flashy jewelry and the latest in designer fashions, so it should come as little surprise that she would fall victim to a robbery.

In 2008, her home was looted to the tune of $2 million worth of clothing, jewelry and top-shelf alcohol. Even her designer bras were taken.

The culprits were a group of teenagers known as the ‘Bling Ring.’ Although Hilton’s home was their most lucrative break in, they also robbed Orlando Bloom, Megan Fox and Lindsay Lohan before their string of robberies was brought to a halt.

These break-ins could have been easily prevented. The burglars gained access to Hilton’s home using a spare key found under her doormat.

steve-jobs2. Steve Jobs (2012)

Unsurprisingly, the home of Steve Jobs was filled with the latest in personal technology gadgets. As the former CEO of Apple, he was the brains behind some of the most groundbreaking and trendsetting personal computing innovations in history. Jobs believed in his company’s products — he kept every Apple product in his home.

Perhaps that’s what prompted the home invader to target Jobs. Upon breaking in, the burglar gathered up as many iPods, iPads, iPhones and computers as he could. Sixty-thousand worth of expensive jewelry was also swiped. The burglar even took Jobs’ wallet.

 Unfortunately for the burglar, Jobs’ technological creations had been equipped with both loss recovery and personal security technology. While most of us use these applications to find our iPhone when it has slipped under the seat in the car, investigators tracked the criminal using the stolen devices.

Only a day after breaking into Jobs’ home, the criminal was in custody. Targeting one of the masterminds behind high-tech personal devices wasn’t such a good idea.

3. Sylvester Stallone (2010)

Not every intruder is actually trying to rob the place. Sometimes the intruder is a delusional man trying to impress one of his heroes. In 2010, an aspiring action star wanted to prove himself to Rocky. First, the intruder needed to make it by Stallone’s guard dog, a well-trained but vicious pit bull. Using martial arts, the intruder succeeded in knocking out the dog.

After making it into Stallone’s front yard, the intruder then took the opportunity to show off more of his martial arts routine. He began to perform athletic moves in hopes catching Stallone’s attention and landing a role in a future action film. The private security guarding Stallone’s home were not impressed and quickly subdued the intruder before he was sent to jail.

It should be noted that Stallone wasn’t home at the time. If your goal is to impress an action star, you should make sure he’s home. Considering how quickly the private security took him into custody, it would seem that perhaps the intruder had an inflated sense of his own skills. It might be time for this criminal to look into a different line of work.

4. LL Cool J (2012) ll-cool-j

In 1990, LL Cool J released the hit single “Mama Said Knock You Out.” In 2012, LL proved that he meant it. His security alarm system alerted him to an unwelcome guest. When he went downstairs to investigate, a fight ensued. Before the night was over, the would-be burglar had a broken jaw, ribs and nose and was en route to the hospital, having gained nothing but a severely battered ego. LL, on the other hand, maintained his cool and calmly described the scene and his act of self-defense to the responding police officers.

Not only did the home invader fail to come away with anything of value, but he lost a pretty penny in the failed attempt. The burglar ended up $6000 in the hole due to insurance not covering the medical costs.

LL proved the value in a two-step security system. The custom security system installed on LL’s home alerted him to the danger, and he also had the muscle to defend his home. If only we could include him in all of our security system installations.

5. Jon Bon Jovi (2011)

While LL Cool J delivered a one-two security punch, custom security systems can sometimes be enough. Just ask Jon Bon Jovi.

In April of 2011, an intruder made his way into Bon Jovi’s New Jersey home and left with $100,000 worth of jewelry. The crook made it out of the house and thought he’d gotten away with the loot.

Luckily, Bon Jovi’s advanced security system gathered enough information to track down the burglar. He was eventually caught red-handed, hiding in a bathroom stall. Not only was he carrying the jewelry taken from Bon Jovi’s home, but he also had $400,000 worth of jewelry stolen from other homes on him as well.

The criminal probably would have been better off calling it quits with the initial $400,000, but robbers greedy enough to try to steal from the rich and famous don’t always think their actions through. If you succeed at gaining entry into a celebrity’s house and then leave without being confronted, the whole affair was probably too easy. Bon Jovi’s security system might not have stopped the robbery, but it sure did prevent the robber from stealing from anyone in the future.

6. Céline Dion (2011)celine-dion

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a burglar truly wants to steal or wants to feel close to a celebrity. Such is the case with the 2011 break-in at Céline Dion’s Montreal home.

Shortly after the burglar entered Dion’s home, he apparently became hungry, so he made his way to Dion’s refrigerator and helped himself to some pastries. After his snack, he decided to take a bath. Fortunately for Dion and unfortunately for the intruder, the home was equipped with a sophisticated security system, so the police were immediately notified that something was amiss. When they arrived to investigate, the intruder was stepping into the bath.

Who knows what was really going through the man’s mind, but apparently Dion keeps an inviting home — so inviting that would-be thieves have a hard time leaving once they gain entrance! Even so, the robber failed to adhere to a basic principle of robbery: get in, get out and do it quick. Don’t stick around to give people the chance to catch up with you. And no matter how much you may need one, a home invasion is no time to take a bath.

7. Nicholas Cage (2011)

Knowing that an unwelcome guest disrobed in your home when you weren’t around is unsettling, as was the case with Céline Dion, but having the same thing happen when you are actually home is even more disturbing.

One night, Cage was sleeping soundly in his Orange County home when he was suddenly awakened by a naked man eating a Fudgsicle while wearing his leather jacket. With the intruder standing over his bed, Cage was understandably unsettled, especially considering his young son was sleeping in a room nearby.

Cage kept calm and handled the situation. The intruder was apparently suffering from some severe mental disorders. Thankfully, Cage convinced him to leave without further incident. Cage has commented that, on the surface, it seems like a humorous tale, but he found the experience to be quite horrifying.

Cage was generous enough not to press charges, and he made sure that the intruder received the help he needed. He was disturbed enough, however, that he promptly sold his home and moved to the Bahamas.

8. Prince (2009) prince

Sometimes the intruder becomes almost as famous as the victim. Such is the case when a rising pop star invades the home of one who is already established. Although some people question the voracity of the tale, pop singer Ke$ha recently told the world that she once broke into Prince’s home in order to give him one of her demo CDs.

According to Ke$ha, she bribed the gardener with $5 so that he would stay quiet as she crawled under the fence. She eventually made it to Prince’s practice space, where he was working on new material with his band. She handed a stunned Prince her music and then was silent as she was escorted out by a displeased security team.

Ke$ha eventually became a household name on her own. Prince never contacted her about the demo and didn’t press charges, but Ke$ha has stated that she would have preferred to have been arrested because of the notoriety it would bring. The stunt may have indeed brought her into the limelight, but we can think of a number of better ways to earn renown.

9. Moby (2011)

Moby is famous for being a super chill vegan, so perhaps his reaction to this break-in shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. One morning, Moby woke up to find a complete stranger, whom he identified as “Robbie,” sitting in his living room. Obviously confused and concerned, Moby calmly asked the man to leave.

Although the intruder verbally indicated that he was going to cooperate, he never moved. Finally, after repeated prompting, the man admitted that he was under the influence of LSD and wasn’t sure what to do. Moby, showing a surprising level of accommodation, found the man a sweatshirt because mornings in the area are famously cold. Moby also gave him money for breakfast. The man thanked him and admitted that entering Moby’s home was a terrible idea, something he’d never do were he not under the influence of hallucinogens.

Although Moby was concerned for the young man’s well-being, he admitted that it could have been much worse. Realizing that the next intruder may not be such a harmless soul, Moby decided to start locking his doors.

Considering how often celebrities are the victims of break-ins, we think Moby might be a little too nice.

10. Queen Victoria (1838-1841)/Queen Elizabeth II (1982) queen

Not every celebrity break-in victim comes from the 21st century. We’re sure security is a bit tighter around the British Royal Family these days, but even queens have seen their personal belongings pilfered.

A young man managed to break into Buckingham Palace three separate times. He claimed he only wanted to get close to the queen. Unfortunately, he took it a bit further. He admitted to opening and reading a personal letter written to the queen — and even stealing a pair of her underwear!

Some have argued that the intruder was the first known celebrity stalker. He was eventually sent to Australia, then to a penal colony for the British Empire.

Royal security became far more robust in the 20th century, but another intruder successfully entered Buckingham Palace in 1982 and reportedly made it as far as Queen Elizabeth II’s bed chamber before he was caught. He repeatedly tripped the security alarms, but the guards on duty thought that someone breaking into Buckingham Palace was absurd, so they turned them off, assuming them to be false.

Twenty years after the fact, the intruder still remembers what the queen’s nightgown looked like. The break in proved to be a great embarrassment for the Crown, and they have since taken all alarms very seriously. And considering Buckingham Palace houses the royal family in one of the world’s richest countries, you’d imagine that they would have the best home security system money can buy!

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How You Can Avoid These Celebrity Fates?

With so many stories of high-profile robberies, many of you are probably asking, “what about security systems for my home?” Luckily for you, at Titan Alarm, we don’t differentiate between security systems for mansions and systems for family homes. We give all of our customers the same kind of personal attention and care, no matter how large your home is!

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Trust Titan Alarm

Unlike most home alarm companies, our installations are full service. We don’t send a subcontractor to do our installations for us. Anyone who comes to your home works directly for our company. We think this is essential for installing home security systems. We want you to feel confident in every installation. We know you are trusting us to help protect you, your family and your home.

Our security installations come complete with the latest in security technology. Our installations can be controlled with a smart phone and are fully automated. If you want a security system that does not require web access, we can also install local, remotely controlled systems. We are proud to offer this kind of versatility and customization.

Our systems come with a number of industry leading features, such as:

  • Motion detection
  • Video monitoring
  • Instant alerts
  • Visual verification image sensors

Homeowners throughout the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan region have turned to Titan Alarm for their home security needs. Don’t make the same mistake as Moby and Paris. Protect your home from those who want to rob you and do you harm.

Here at Titan Alarm, we believe in the importance of the highest quality residential security systems. Every system we install is backed by a family company committed to excellence and honesty. Contact Titan Alarm today and connect with our friendly and professional staff. Get started on your custom home alarm system right away!

Learn More About Burglar Alarm Systems for Your Home

Updated by Titan Alarm on October 31, 2018.

Great Last Minute Tech Gifts 2015

Most of us always procrastinate until the very last minute before Christmas to get gifts for our friends and family. Here’s 5 great tech gifts for the last minute shopper.

 

1. iPhone Movie Projector.

Hook up your iPhone (or any smartphone) to this little projector and have a mini theatre in your home!

$31.95 (Buy It Here)

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2. Fitbit Charge Wireless Wristband.

Track your heart rate, distance you’ve travelled, workouts, steps, and so  much more with this all in one wristband!

$149.99 (Buy It Here)

 

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3. Amazon Fire Stick.

This is a game changer for home entertainment. If you don’t have a way to access Netflix, Hulu, Amazon or HBO (and many more) from your TV, then this is the gadget for you.

$39.99 (Buy It Here)

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4. The “Hoverboard”.

The hottest commodity that every single teenager wants this winter. If you need a last minute gift you can’t go wrong with this!

$349.99 (Buy It Here)

 

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5. Home Automation System.

Titan alarm is one of the leading and most cutting edge companies for you to get a smart home automation system in Phoenix and the valley. You can never go wrong with this! Keep an eye on your house when you’re away, adjust your thermostat remotely, and so much more!

(Learn More Here)

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To learn MORE about Home Automation Systems in Phoenix and the surrounding areas contact Titan Alarm today! Call us! 602-680-4567 or TEXT US! 623-523-4849

Learn More About Home Automation

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Holiday Vacation Tips

3 Security Vacation Tips

As one of the busiest travel seasons approaches make sure your holidays aren’t ruined by using the 5 following tips to protect your home that is protected with home security in Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert or Paradise Valley.

The following guidelines outline how to avoid travel risks.

1. Secure your phone, tablet and laptop. If you are using one of these devices to monitor your home security system, make sure that all of your devices are password protected. If you on the off chance do lose your iPhone or iPad make sure to wipe them with Find My iPhone so that no one can access your user data and access your home security system.

 

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2. If possible, don’t bring valuables. Leave as much jewelry and other fine items at home, locked in a safe place.

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3. Social media can wait. Share limited information on social media about your location and length of travel. Over sharing, even with friends and family, can provide Internet trolls enough information to know you’re not at home, putting your assets at risk. Also, vacation is better this way—take time to unplug.

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Holidays are a crucial time to have a Home Security System, lots of burglars know that people will be out of town and away from their homes, leaving it a vulnerable spot to break in and rob. The last thing you want to do when you come back from a holiday vacation is come home to find your house has been robbed.

Home security is a great way to keep yourself, your loved ones and  your valuable items safe and sound. With a Titan Alarm Home Security System you’re taking the right step to protecting yourself.

To learn more about a Home Security System in Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix,az, Chandler, Gilbert or Paradise Valley contact Titan Alarm today! Call 602-680-4567 or TEXT US! 623-523-4849.

Learn More About Burglar Alarms

Updated by Titan Alarm on October 31, 2018.

Thanksgiving Travel

Holidays are a time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends, so Titan Alarm is here to give you some easy tips to keep you worry and stress free about your home during the holidays!

Keep your yard clean: If you’re out cleaning leaves from the gutters, or replacing shingles before the cold winter snow sets in, make sure you don’t leave any ladders out if you’re not using them.

Dumb as a Rock: Don’t leave any keys hidden that someone could find, burglars know all the good spots.

Silence is Golden: While you’re away make sure your voice mail is on the lowest volume and that your land lines are on mute so that no one can hear the phones ringing over and over again when you’re not home.

You’ve Got Mail: Have all mail held at the post office or have a neighbor get the mail for you while you’re gone.

Lockdown: Lock and Secure all windows, make sure you don’t forget the ones upstairs as well.

Home Alone: Use timers to operate lights to make it look like there are people home.

Last but not least, one of the best ways you can protect your house is to have a Titan Alarm system installed in your home, our systems include 24 hour monitoring to keep your home safe and sound.

If you’d like to learn more, call Titan Alarm at 602-680-4567 or TEXT US! 623-523-4849

Learn More About Home Security

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Home Security Tips for the Holidays.

With the holidays approaching faster than anyone knows what to do with, it’s time for us to start helping everyone out with a few security tips to keep their homes safe while the hustle and bustle of the holiday season takes over.

1. A Lived In House. Make it look like you’re still home when you’re away, have lights on a timer, ask a neighbor to collect your mail while you’re gone, these are two great ways to make burglars think you’re still home.

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2. Contact Titan. Make sure you get a hold of us to update all your contact numbers before you head out of town, that way if something happens we can get ahold of you immediately.

3. Conceal valuables. Keep valuable items out of sight from anyone looking outside the house. Don’t keep spare keys in places obvious to burglars such as under a flower pot or fake rock. Remove valuable items from sight in your car, if parked in the driveway, and put a lock on the steering wheel.

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4. Decorations. Make sure your holiday decorations don’t cover vital parts of your Titan Alarm Home Security System.

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Learn More About Home Security

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

System Check Up

Fall

Fall is here, and with the change of seasons brings hot chocolate, pumpkins, hayrides, and cooler weather. Aside from the things most people look forward to, there’s also some things that home owners and landlords start to worry about with cooling temperatures. Cooler temps mean higher risks of freezing pipes, fires from heaters and houses being too cold.

Which means it’s the perfect time for you to have your Titan Alarm system inspected, which YOU can do!

Here are three steps to take to do some routine maintenance on your system!

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1. Sensor Utilization.
Make sure that your sensors are in the right areas, as the year goes on people like to rearrange furniture and decorations, so make sure that your sensors have clear lines of sight into each room that you want each sensor to monitor.
Make sure that no chairs, couches, tables or decorations in the way of the sensor.

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2. Battery Replacement.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to replace your batteries! Most homeowners will only replace the battery when they receive the alert for a low battery, but the truth is most batteries should be replaced every 3-5 years, but it’s never a bad thing to be too prepared and change it every year. Feel free to call us to set up getting you a new battery if you need it!

3. Maintenance is Key.
Try to maintain your system throughout the year, bare minimum at least once a year. It’s extremely simple to do and it’s fast! If you want to learn how pick up your phone and call Titan Alarm at 602.680.4567 or TEXT us at 623.523.4849

Learn More About Home Security

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

3 Reasons for a Wireless Security System

When shopping for a new Home Security System in Phoenix or Tuscon, you’re going to be faced with a lot of different companies, with a lot of different packages and offers for you for your home. When you’re shopping though, you should remember these 3 perks of having a Wireless Security System.

1. Remote Control

One of the MANY advantages of having a wireless security system in your home, is having the ability to check in on your home from anywhere you are. If you’re out with friends or stuck in the office for work, you can check your cameras with your handy smartphone! You also can check if you forgot on the lights, or would like to turn the lights on to keep intruders out. Have you had issues with the house being too hot or cold when you’re gone? Easy fix. Control your wireless thermostat with your smart phone.

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2. Instant Notifications

Along with Remote Check-ins another amazing resource is to have notifications sent to your smartphone when an event happens in your house. Receive notifications any time a door is opened or unlocked, that way you can see who comes and goes, or have notifications sent if your home security system is armed or disarmed.

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3. Programmable Features

This is one of our favorites here at Titan Alarm! Did you know that your lights can be programmed to turn on based off of what time it is? Do you have constant fights with your alarm clock in the morning? This is your solution, program your lights to automatically turn on at a certain time to kick you out of bed! Do you leave in a rush in the mornings? Set up a geo-fence that will trigger all the doors to lock, lights to turn off, and thermostat to turn up once you get a certain distance away on work days!

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Wireless Security Systems are one of the top trending security systems available now a days! If you’re interested in learning more contact Titan Alarm today! Give us a call 602-680-4567 or TEXT US 623-523-4849

Learn More About Home Automation

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

Home Automation Geo Location Services

Geo tracking allows residential and commercial customers new possibilities that goes above and beyond security and emergency services. The way that Geo Tracking works is that most smart phones have a GPS locator built into it, (such as your maps app. etc.), as long as you have your location services enabled, Alarm.com can tell where you are located. The nice thing about this is that you can set rules of what you would like to happen all based off of where you are located. For example, if you are at home, your thermostat can be set to the temperature that you prefer, and if you leave more than a half mile away from home, you can have the temperature start rising, saving you money on your electric bill, and as you approach home again the temperature will start dropping so it can be the perfect temperature for you to walk in to.

 

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You can also set up rules to close down your house when you get to far away, if you get a mile away Alarm.com can do the following, close your garage door, make sure the doors are locked, turn off lights or turn them on, arm your system, change thermostat and so much more.

All of these possibilities are included with Titan Alarm services.

Want to learn more? Contact us!

Learn More About Home Automation

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.

False Alarm Prevention Program Phoenix

Did you know that the Phoenix Police Department offers a False Alarm Prevention Program??

What you can gain from the course:

  • Provides reasons for false alarm activations and ways to prevent them.
  • Educational information for alarm system users.
  • Includes a certificate for waiver of one $96 Police False Alarm Assessment. (Certificate must be redeemed before an invoice has been issued for the false alarm.)

Cost is $10 per subscriber, paid at the class.

You must R.S.V.P. for any class.

For more information call the Code Enforcement Unit at:

602.534.0322

 

Learn More About Fire Alarm Systems

Updated by Titan Alarm on November 5, 2018.