A reported home invasion at a multimillion-dollar Los Angeles mansion has taken an unexpected turn, with authorities now questioning whether the man who said he was beaten and robbed may have been squatting in the property.
Police were called early Thursday to a residence in the 8500 block of Hedges Way in Hollywood Hills West after the man reported that five armed intruders had attacked him and stolen from him.
According to his account, he was house-sitting the two-story home, which sits above the Sunset Strip, when the group forced its way inside sometime after midnight.
He told officers he had been staying at the property on behalf of the homeowner, even as a real estate sign was posted in the front yard.
But as investigators looked further into the story, the situation quickly became far less straightforward.
The homeowner saw KTLA’s report about the alleged home invasion and sent a friend to check on the property.
The friend arrived to find the man who had reported the robbery still inside the house.
As a news crew filmed outside, the alleged victim walked up to the camera, described what he said had happened — then took off down the hill.
“I’m the one that got attacked last night trying to save this house,” the man told the outlet.
READ MORE: Surrogate Who Refused Abortion Issues Urgent Plea
Cops later said the man wasn’t house-sitting, wasn’t the homeowner and don’t believe he even lives in the neighborhood.
It remains unclear whether he was arrested or taken into custody.
The actual robbery suspects, meanwhile, allegedly came armed with guns and spent just a few minutes inside the home before making off with a safe and fleeing in a gray or black Jeep, police said.
Surveillance cameras at the property were working and will be reviewed as detectives investigate.
The bizarre case comes just days after another Hollywood Hills burglary scare involving filmmaking legend Quentin Tarantino.
A burglar was reportedly spotted trying to break into Tarantino’s three-story home above Mulholland Drive Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
A gardener at the property reported seeing the suspect, described as a roughly 35-year-old man wearing long black sleeves and black pants.
By the time cops arrived, the alleged burglar had fled. Officers searched the home but found no trace of him.
No property was reported stolen, police told the outlet.
There’s no word yet on whether the two Hollywood Hills incidents are connected.