Natalia Barulich, a well-known model and former partner of Colombian singer Maluma, has initiated legal proceedings against a luxury apartment complex in Los Angeles following a traumatic burglary that resulted in the loss of valuables exceeding £2.1 million. The lawsuit, filed on 26 April in the Superior Court of California, names Caruso Property Management, LLC, and 8500 Burton Way, LLC, as the primary defendants, accusing them of negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraudulent inducement regarding her lease agreement.
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The 34-year-old model’s complaint alleges that the decision to lease an apartment at 8500 Burton Way was influenced by assurances from the management that their building was the “safest and most secure residential building in Los Angeles.” Promises of “24-hour security,” “secured residential areas,” and “a security command centre” played a critical role in Barulich’s choice to reside there.
However, Barulich claims that the management neglected to inform her of a previous burglary in the building that occurred just doors away from her unit a year prior to her signing the lease. Given her past experiences as a victim of burglary, she stated that had she been aware of this incident, she would not have elected to move into the complex.
The troubling events unfolded in October 2025 when Barulich was travelling. During her absence, thieves allegedly infiltrated her apartment, making off with luxury handbags, watches, jewellery, and other personal items valued at over £2.1 million. The model asserts that the burglars managed to bypass various security measures, including a secured elevator that one suspect rode for approximately 14 minutes before reaching her floor. She further claims that they accessed her flat itself by overriding the locking system, remaining undetected for several hours.
In her filing, Barulich details how access logs indicated that only building security had entered her apartment during her absence. Disturbingly, she recounts that some staff members suggested the potential for the burglary to have been an “inside job,” raising serious concerns about the security team’s role in the incident.
When Barulich confronted the property management about the burglary, she alleges that they refused her access to the surveillance footage and insisted she sign a non-disparagement agreement before being allowed to vacate the premises—a request she adamantly declined. The situation further deteriorated when she discovered that a new family who moved into her former unit also experienced a burglary, yet once again, building security failed to detect any wrongdoing.
According to Barulich’s legal complaint, the building has recorded a troubling history of security breaches, with three burglaries or attempted burglaries in the span of just three years. These figures, she argues, starkly contradict the claims made by the defendants regarding the safety of the building.
Following the traumatic incident, Barulich disclosed in her complaint the profound psychological impact it has had on her life. She described enduring “severe anxiety, paranoia, chronic nightmares, post-traumatic stress, and an all-encompassing fear” for her personal safety, indicating the grave toll the experience has taken on her mental health.
Barulich is now seeking a jury trial and is requesting compensatory damages, as well as punitive and exemplary damages, lamenting the alleged neglect of her safety and well-being by the property management. Her legal action highlights not only her personal ordeal but also raises broader concerns regarding the efficacy of security measures implemented in residential buildings and the responsibilities of landlords in safeguarding their tenants.
The case has garnered attention, and inquiries have been made to Caruso Property Management, LLC, and 8500 Burton Way regarding their response to the allegations. As the story unfolds, the implications for both Barulich and the management company will be closely watched, particularly in light of increasing scrutiny on housing security in urban environments.