Robert de Niro says Christmas burglary by Shanice Aviles is ‘sad’
Robert De Niro opened up about the crack-in at his Manhattan townhouse, telling The Post it was a “sad situation” — and that he feels “bad” for the serial burglar allegedly caught opening Xmas offers below his tree.
The 79-12 months-outdated Oscar-winner built the comments as he still left a shut-doorways custody hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court in his divorce scenario from estranged spouse Grace Hightower.
“It’s just a unfortunate circumstance — unlucky for everyone,” De Niro explained of the Dec. 19 tried burglary, while wearing a deal with mask, a hat and keeping a newspaper to block component of his deal with.
“It’s all sad,” he additional. “I felt bad for the entire predicament. I felt bad for the individual.”
The “Irishman” actor’s rented Higher East Facet townhouse was damaged into as he slept, times ahead of Christmas. Prosecutors have explained accused burglar Shanice Aviles, 30, applied a knife and “crowbar-like tool” to power her way into the home and was observed by cops fumbling with his possessions.
De Niro’s divorce attorney Caroline Krauss on Tuesday claimed it’s sad “that anyone would experience the need to have to do this kind of a detail, to which the star chimed in, “yes.”
When questioned if the incident still left him afraid the “Taxi Driver” actor and native New Yorker replied: “No.”
Aviles allegedly broke into De Niro’s pad at around 2 a.m. and rummaged by his things in the basement, the dwelling space and on the second ground, prosecutors mentioned at a listening to in Manhattan Felony Court docket previous month.
“She opened the Christmas provides underneath the tree and repackaged what she preferred in a tote bag,” Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dylan Los Huertos reported all through Aviles’ arraignment.
The accused thief even allegedly employed the actor’s iPad and iPod and was busted with his earbuds in her pocket, prosecutors reported.
De Niro was asleep upstairs for the duration of the incident, sources claimed
Aviles pleaded not guilty to burglary charges and is staying held at Rikers Island on $40,000 bail. She is because of again in court on Wednesday, court docket records present.
Meanwhile, legal professionals for De Niro and Hightower declined to remark on the short listening to in the divorce scenario, aside from confirming the pair experienced not but settled.
Within the courtroom, De Niro removed his hat revealing a shaved head — which he later claimed was since of “ringworm” before saying the bald glance was for an impending purpose. “It’s sophisticated,” De Niro explained.
Manhattan Supreme Courtroom Justice Ariel Chesler shut the courtroom from the general public Tuesday citing “confidential custody” issues in the divorce case.
The “Raging Bull” star quietly filed for divorce from Hightower in 2018. They were being jointly for 20 decades with a five-12 months split soon after divorcing for the to start with time in 2003. They renewed their vows and remarried a 12 months later on.
The pair have fought around the custody of their daughter Helen Grace, 11.
Hightower — a philanthropist and actress — had also previously sought half of the earnings that De Niro manufactured in Hollywood and business ventures, but an appeals court docket in 2021 denied that request.
