Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a burglary call from a construction worker at the Malibu residence of singer Lana Del Rey on Monday, Nov. 30 around 8:20 a.m., according to a release from Sheriff Jim McDonnell.
The caller reported finding an unknown male suspect in the garage of the singer’s home. Del Rey was not home at the time.
Before the deputies could arrive, the suspect fled the location, but had left personal property behind at the scene, including paperwork and a computer hard drive, which were ultimately used to identify the suspect as 19-year-old Zachary Self.
Detectives with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station were then notified of the events and began an investigation.
“There [are] 50 ways to do an investigation — not one of them is perfect or right in any situation,” Sgt. Matthew Dunn said. “So I leave it up to my detectives abilities, capabilities and resources that are available to them to locate, contact and follow through with their investigations.”
Using the computer hard drive, paperwork and various social media outlets, detectives began working in an undercover capacity to contact the suspect and arrange a meeting.
On the morning of Dec. 1, City of Santa Monica Police Department detectives worked with Malibu/Lost Hills detectives and arranged a meeting with Self at an undisclosed Starbucks in Santa Monica, according to Dunn.
After establishing the suspect, Self was arrested for suspicion of burglary and stalking.
Property from Del Rey’s residence was recovered during the arrest, according to Dunn.
“My detectives are very talented at what they do,” Dunn said. “They used the paperwork, social media and computer to identify him.”
Del Rey purchased her $3 million beachfront mansion in June, reportedly moving from her home in Hancock Park to Malibu for more privacy from her fans.
The Grammy-nominated singer’s catalog includes self-titled album “Lana Del Rey,” “Born To Die,” “Ultraviolence” and recently released “Honeymoon.”
In the music video for “High by the Beach” — the first single released from “Honeymoon” — Del Rey is followed wandering around a beach house, flipping through a tabloid magazine while a helicopter outside hovers above taking pictures of her. Del Rey runs outside, finds a large firearm and shoots the helicopter down. In the closing scenes of the music video, pieces of the tabloids are seen on shore with flames, being washed away with the tide.