LAPD arrests alleged burglary ringleader

Los Angeles police have arrested a suspected leader of a small but sophisticated crew of burglars who allegedly broke into the homes of executives, celebrities and sports stars, stealing millions of dollars worth of cash and property, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

Dubbed the “Hillside Burglars” by police, the bandits are suspected of committing more than 150 break-ins over the last several years, targeting some of Los Angeles’ wealthiest neighborhoods, and taking items worth more than $10 million.

Troy Corsby Thomas, 45, who law enforcement sources alleged was one of two leaders of the gang, was taken into custody Saturday after a three-year investigation by a special Los Angeles Police Department task force.

Police records obtained by The Times show that Thomas described himself as an auto broker at the time of his arrest. At a brief court appearance Tuesday, Thomas pleaded not guilty to two charges of residential burglary in January 2006 and March 2008. He was held in lieu of $2-million bail. Additional charges were expected to be filed, according to sources.

LAPD officials declined to comment on the arrest, saying they would hold a news conference today in which details of the case would be released.

Law enforcement sources, however, said police got a break in the case when they found some stolen safes that had been dumped in a canyon. They also recovered DNA evidence at the scene of a burglary, which led to members of the crew.

“These are very smart criminals. That’s why it took us so long to catch them,” said one LAPD source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrest.

According to police, the Hillside Burglars usually wore black clothes, ski masks and gloves when breaking into homes in Bel-Air, Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills, the so-called Platinum Triangle, and the hills above Encino and Sherman Oaks. They usually struck at night and on weekends, while homeowners were out of town, police said. The ring is one of several in recent years that have targeted these areas, which are home to many celebrities, corporate titans and studio chiefs.

As a testament to their skills, the burglars evaded security systems and cameras in all but one of their break-ins. The only time the burglars were caught on a security camera was at an Encino estate. The tape shows a brief image of two muscular men without their masks, police said. But their faces were hard to see.

Police did not release the names of victims of the various burglaries. But two sources with knowledge of the investigation said the burglars hit the home of former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing and her director husband, William Friedkin. They also stole $500,000 in cash and jewelry from the Bel-Air mansion of Clippers star Cuttino Mobley.

Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor and his wife, Juicy Couture President Gela Nash-Taylor, had a safe taken from their Hollywood Hills home, the sources said, and the home of country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill was hit while the couple was out of town.

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richard.winton@latimes.com

andrew.blankstein@latimes.com