On Monday, a notorious burglar was captured in the act of robbing Robert De Niro’s leased Manhattan townhouse. Law enforcement sources noted that he had been caught tampering with the actor’s iPad and gifts beneath his Christmas tree.
At around 2:30 a.m., 30-year-old Shanice Aviles reportedly approached the Upper East Side home of 79-year-old Oscar winner and allegedly forced her way into the basement via a stairwell, according to police sources. It is alleged that she used either a pipe or metal bar as leverage for entry.
The 19th Precinct Public Safety team of the NYPD had been keenly watching Aviles, an alleged robber with a criminal record that encompasses 26 arrests. According to sources, they observed her attempting to open doors at commercial buildings in the area before she headed toward the townhouse.
As the officers tracked her movements, they discovered her on Robert De Niro’s second floor – attempting to manipulate his iPad, sources report.
“She was stealing Christmas presents,” a police official said.
Photographs of the “Irishman” star flood this rental home, which costs a whopping $69,000 per month. While the actor was sleeping peacefully upstairs in his bedroom at that time, no one else inside — including his daughter who also occupied a room — realized what was happening.
Aviles was charged with burglary, adding to his already extensive criminal record that includes 16 arrests in 2021 alone according to sources.
“Back in the saddle with this perp,” stated a police source.
Last Wednesday, Aviles was arraigned on charges associated with two burglaries in Queens and released without bail as indicated by documents and sources.
On October 1st, Alexandra was charged with breaking into an apartment, stealing a debit card and charging more than $50 at the local 7-Eleven. Then on October 23rd she allegedly took nearly $1,000 in cash from St Patrick’s Church in Dutch Kills. A criminal complaint was filed against her soon after these events occurred.
According to police sources, Aviles was arrested for six or more burglaries in the 19th Precinct – located on New York City’s Upper East Side – between late November and early December.
On December 9th, Manhattan Criminal Court arraigned her with Judge Paul McDonnell presiding. Prosecutors requested a $35,000 cash bail; however, Judge McDonnell significantly reduced the amount to a more manageable $5,000. According to the District Attorney’s Office this was done in an effort to provide equal access and justice for all parties involved.
After being presented with the case, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Jonathan Svetkey approved Aviles’s release into a 28-day drug rehab program at Cornerstone Treatment Facilities on Dec. 13th, according to prosecutors.
The District Attorney’s Office consented to the transfer, with the condition that Aviles would remain in a supervised rehabilitation center, reported prosecutors.
However, her subsequent court appearance was disregarded and a bench warrant for her arrest was consequently issued two days later.
As she was escorted out of the Lenox Hill station house in handcuffs Monday afternoon, Aviles maintained her innocence while occasionally flashing a smile at the cameras.
“I didn’t go to Robert De Niro’s house,” she said, adding, “I didn’t murder anybody.”
Law enforcement stated there was evidence that the suspect had broken into the townhouse, with police noting it seemed as though the door had been locked. The individual was due to appear before a judge Monday evening.
Robert De Niro spent almost the entire day inside a townhouse, until he emerged at 4:30 p.m., carrying a binder and wearing a black beanie, running shoes, as well as an eye-catching black and gray striped scarf. He quickly made his way to the awaiting Cadillac Escalade before reporters had any time to react!
When a reporter inquired if he was okay, the man insisted that he was “OK,” responding with an emphatic “Yep, I’m good. Thank you.”
When prodded about the crime, the New York native and “Raging Bull” star indignantly retorted, “You can read about it in the papers.”
On Monday, the only activity that could be observed at the house was a constant shuffle of crime scene investigators and a locksmith changing out the locks. However, one errand to Nobu – a Japanese fusion eatery co-founded by the actor in question – stood out with an employee fetching eight large bags of takeout food from there.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, De Niro received a package from Dominique Ansel Bakery – the acclaimed New York City producer of the world-famous “cronut.”
Before Aviles’ claimed period of stealing this and last month, the suspect was already charged for three separate burglaries in Manhattan commencing from August.
On October 11, a 68-year-old homeowner shockingly found an intruder lurking behind his fridge after he awoke and realized that his wallet had been stolen from his night table. After confronting her, the two engaged in a heated scuffle with him reportedly stabbing her leg. According to criminal complaint documentation, this was indeed the thief who pilfered his property.
On the morning of October 3, a woman woke up to find an intruder in her apartment. Terrified, she stayed in bed as the suspect rummaged around and stole her bag, $200 cash, ring and other items. According to police reports, this person was identified as Aviles who had broken into the home without permission or provocation.
According to records, Aviles was also implicated in pilfering $2,000 worth of coupons from an East 70th Street community center on Aug. 19th.
“This is just another example of the catch-and-release justice system we’re dealing with,” the police official stated, whereas another source depicted Aviles as “one of the [19th Precinct’s] top five burglars.”
On Monday, Robert De Niro’s representatives declined to address the burglary that had been reported.
“We are not making any statements at this time about the robbery at the temporary rental home of Robert De Niro,” Media Strategies Representation Consulting stated.
After 37 blissful years in his luxurious West Village townhouse, the revered actor sold it for $9.5 million in 2012 and found solace at his upstate New York abode during these unprecedented times of the pandemic.
After two decades of matrimony, actor Robert De Niro and his wife, actress Grace Hightower decided to part ways in 2018. They have a daughter born in 2011 who they co-parent.
