Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Posted: 11:19 PM EST (0419 GMT)
(CNN) -- Thieves made off with a rapper's jewels and stole a pop star's computer, cell phone and iPod, from their hotel rooms in Las Vegas where they were attending the 2003 Radio Music Awards, police and a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Recording artists Nelly and Michelle Branch were staying at Aladdin Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip Monday night, where the burglaries took place, according to Las Vegas police spokesman Jose Montoya.
Montoya said detectives are following up several leads, and said it was too soon to tell whether the burglaries were an "inside job."
Nelly, who is known for sporting expensive jewelry told police he lost more than $1 million in jewels, Montoya said.
Ostentatious jewelry -- commonly referred to as "bling bling" -- is a hallmark of rap music culture.
A publicist for the rapper said he had not spoken with Nelly yet and could not confirm what he told authorities.
Thieves stole also Branch's computer, cell phone, iPod, plus cash and credit cards, according to a spokeswoman for the singer.
Branch criticized the hotel in a statement Tuesday.
"I wasn't expecting to lose my money in Vegas. I didn't get hit nearly as bad as Nelly but I do know that I will never feel safe in that hotel. The staff at the Aladdin could have handled things a lot differently. I won't be going back anytime soon," she said.
However, the evening was not a total loss for Nelly. He did win the "Best Driving Song" award with P. Diddy and Murphy Lee for "Shake Ya Tailfeather."
From CNN senior producer Matt Carey
(CNN) -- Thieves made off with a rapper's jewels and stole a pop star's computer, cell phone and iPod, from their hotel rooms in Las Vegas where they were attending the 2003 Radio Music Awards, police and a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Recording artists Nelly and Michelle Branch were staying at Aladdin Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip Monday night, where the burglaries took place, according to Las Vegas police spokesman Jose Montoya.
Montoya said detectives are following up several leads, and said it was too soon to tell whether the burglaries were an "inside job."
Nelly, who is known for sporting expensive jewelry told police he lost more than $1 million in jewels, Montoya said.
Ostentatious jewelry -- commonly referred to as "bling bling" -- is a hallmark of rap music culture.
A publicist for the rapper said he had not spoken with Nelly yet and could not confirm what he told authorities.
Thieves stole also Branch's computer, cell phone, iPod, plus cash and credit cards, according to a spokeswoman for the singer.
Branch criticized the hotel in a statement Tuesday.
"I wasn't expecting to lose my money in Vegas. I didn't get hit nearly as bad as Nelly but I do know that I will never feel safe in that hotel. The staff at the Aladdin could have handled things a lot differently. I won't be going back anytime soon," she said.
However, the evening was not a total loss for Nelly. He did win the "Best Driving Song" award with P. Diddy and Murphy Lee for "Shake Ya Tailfeather."
From CNN senior producer Matt Carey
