Long before the infamous Bling Ring made headlines for raiding celebrity homes, Kirsten Dunst found herself at the center of a heist straight out of a movie script. On August 9, 2007, Dunst’s penthouse at the Soho Grand Hotel became the target of two alleged burglars who made off with an iPod, a $13,000 purse, and other valuables—all while she was busy filming How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with British actor Simon Pegg.
The Heist Unfolds
Reports reveal the suspects had scoped out the penthouse, waiting for Dunst, Pegg, and her assistant, Liat Baruch, to leave. Security footage later showed the men, identified as Jarrod Beinerman and James Jimenez, leaving the hotel. Beinerman was arrested shortly after, but his defense claimed innocence, insisting they “left empty-handed.” Adding a surreal mid-2000s touch, Beinerman even updated his MySpace mood to “worried” following his arrest—because nothing says peak 2007 like dramatic MySpace statuses.
The Courtroom Spectacle
Things got weirder when the case went to trial in 2010. Jimenez’s lawyer presented a wild defense: the duo wasn’t there to rob anyone—they were allegedly delivering marijuana to Kirsten Dunst. The actress vehemently denied the claim in court, snapping, “No!” when asked if she smoked. Pegg backed her up with an equally forceful, “Absolutely not!”
Undeterred, Jimenez’s lawyer doubled down, telling the New York Daily News, “I don’t think there’s a person on this planet who would believe… she doesn’t smoke marijuana.” It was a bold, and ultimately unsuccessful, move.
The bizarre defenses didn’t stop there. Jimenez’s lawyer argued that his client was too “dumb” to pull off such a robbery, referring to him as a “Mongoloid” in court. Jimenez’s plea during sentencing, “I don’t understand the charges,” prompted the judge to respond sharply: “I understand because I presided over this trial and I’m familiar with all the evidence.” Jimenez received a four-year prison sentence, while Beinerman got four and a half.
A Glimpse into Celebrity Vulnerability
Dunst’s ordeal was an unsettling reminder of the risks celebrities face. Unfortunately, her experience didn’t deter others from targeting Hollywood stars. By the time the case concluded, the Bling Ring had already become notorious for raiding the homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, and other A-listers, turning celebrity robberies into tabloid sensations.
The Prequel to the Bling Ring
While the Bling Ring saga dazzled with its glitter and glam, Kirsten Dunst’s Soho Grand heist was its chaotic prequel. With stolen purses, MySpace updates, and a courtroom circus, the case set the stage for Hollywood’s ongoing battle against celebrity-targeted crime.