Woman broke into Robert De Niro’s apartment to steal Christmas presents

Shanice Aviles, 30, allegedly snuck down a stairwell that led into the actor's Upper East Side apartment at around 2:30 am. Police had been following her after she was spotted trying to open doors to commercial buildings in the area.

The officers followed her into the apartment and up to the second floor where she was caught fiddling with an iPad after having stuffed her bag with Christmas presents from under the tree.

Aviles allegedly began her life of petty crime during the pandemic and has since built up quite a reputation within the NYPD’s 19th Precinct, which covers the Upper East Side. She has been described by police as "one of the precinct's top five burglars."

She has already clocked up almost 26 prior arrests, mostly for burglaries. 16 of those were in the last year alone. However, because of the New York state's controversial criminal justice reforms, crimes considered to be minor, such as burglary, are not eligible for bail, thereby allowing her to go free.

On October 11, Aviles got into a scuffle with a homeowner who found her hiding behind the fridge after discovering his wallet was missing from his nightstand. During the confrontation, he allegedly stabbed her in the leg.

The previous week, she stole $200 in cash and other valuable items from an apartment, while the scared resident watched the burglary unfold from her bed, too frightened to move.

She is also charged with stealing $2,000 worth of coupons from a community center in August.

Just last week, Aviles was arraigned on charges connected to two burglaries in Queens, but was released without bail.

"This is just another example of the catch-and-release justice system we're dealing with," a police official said.

Representatives for Robert De Niro have declined to comment on the burglary, telling the Post, "We are not making any statements at this time about the robbery at the temporary rental home of Robert De Niro."

The multiple-award-winning actor is a lifelong New Yorker, having been born and raised in Manhattan.