A man who allegedly burglarized millions of dollars worth of property from Hollywood Hills homes of celebrities and others has been arrested, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.
Investigators found more than 2,000 suspected stolen items when search warrants were served on the home of Benjamin Eitan Ackerman, 32, and a storage unit, Detective Jared Timmons said.
Entertainers such as Usher, Adam Lambert, and Jason Derulo were among 13 victims identified so far, Timmons said.
Police posted photos of items on a website in hope of identifying other victims and returning the property to them. Timmons said the estimated combined value of the items was at several million dollars.
A file photo taken in 1991 shows the homes in the famed Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California. /VCG Photo
The items stolen in 2017 and 2018 include artwork, jewelry, fine wines, purses, and clothing, said Captain Cory Palka, commander of the LAPD's Hollywood Division.
Authorities alleged Ackerman cased homes while pretending to be a potential buyer or real estate agent at open houses. Police said he also sometimes falsely claimed to work for an investment firm.
Timmons said detectives were still trying to determine how the burglaries were carried out, including who else may have been involved.
(Top photo: A file photo shows that the police makes investigations on a reported burglary happened in a house on Clarendon Street, Hollywood Hills, December 19, 2008. /VCG Photo)