When thieves break into John Wick's home, mayhem and retribution ensue.
But thefts from the home of Keanu Reeves, the featured actor in that movie franchise, have led to law enforcement's return of his valuables followed by a polite, personally penned thank you note from the film star.
It turns out that Reeves, 61, was among the victims of a ring of foreign nationals who travel to the United States burglarising homes in affluent neighborhoods before returning home with a haul of expensive wares.
Reeves' home was burglarised sometime in 2023 and the thieves made off with millions of dollars in items. Among the stolen goods were six valuable watches, including one from the set of John Wick with an inscription on the back, according to the FBI.
Earlier this year, special investigators in Chile – where some theft rings have originated – targeted a gang in eastern Santiago believed to be behind residential burglaries and occasional home invasions.
In a joint operation between the FBI and Chilean police, authorities served search warrants at the homes of suspected theft ring members and recovered property belonging to Reeves and another person.
Reeves received back six watches valued at approximately US$125,000 (RM518,206) in August during a meeting in New York with law enforcement after identifying the watches from photos. But in many ways, because of their attachments, they had far greater value to the star.
Reeves provided a handwritten letter to the FBI, offering "profound gratitude and appreciation," thanking all parties involved, "to include the LAPD, the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, the FBI's Legal Attaché Office in Santiago, Chile, Policia de Investigaciones (PDI), and Fiscalìa de Chile (Chilean National Prosecutor's Office).
"Thank you so much for all your effort, dedication, professionalism and cross-border cooperation. My warmest regards, Keanu."
Officials say Reeves' home and the other man whose property was recovered were victims of South American theft rings, which FBI investigators say have targeted homes throughout the United States.
Over the last several years, Southern California communities have become a favourite target. Chilean police returned the stolen items during a visit by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in July.
During the investigation, law enforcement sources confirmed Chilean police recovered a cellphone containing a photo taken in the United States. The image features the John Wick Submariner, a gun, and the actor's driving license, suggesting it was taken during the burglary.
The theft groups have targeted celebrities' and professional athletes' homes and have since expanded into complex overnight break-ins of jewellery stores and high-end retailers.
Chilean gangs are known to conduct surveillance and use technical tools to commit their thefts. – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
