A woman accused of trying to steal actor Robert De Niro’s Christmas presents from under the actor’s Christmas tree in his New York apartment has been arrested, according to local media.
Police arrested Shanice Aviles, 30, after she was allegedly spotted entering De Niro’s East 65th Street home at 2.45am in Manhattan and charged her with burglary, the ABC7 TV news station reported.
ABC said police saw Aviles in the neighborhood where she had been arrested numerous times previously and followed her as she tried several front doors. After losing sight of her, they then saw an open door to a townhouse and went inside, police said.
The residence turned out to belong to De Niro, and Aviles was caught inside taking presents from under the Christmas tree in the home and stuffing them in a bag. “All the commotion woke up De Niro, who came downstairs to see what was going on,” ABC said.
De Niro is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation with a reputation for playing tough guys in such films as The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Heat and Raging Bull. The two-time Academy Award winner and Aviles had “no interaction”, the station reported.
