Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger tighten security amid fears more celebs could be targeted in raids like Kim Kardashian
X FACTOR boss Simon Cowell has increased his security in the wake of the Kim Kardashian armed robbery.
The music mogul, 57, who himself was burgled last year and had £1million of jewellery stolen, vowed to protect the show's contestants at the television studios in Wembley, north London.
It comes after reality star Kim, 35, was tied up and put in a bath in a hotel room in Paris this week as armed burglars stole millions of pounds of jewellery.
Asked if he would be adding extra staff to protect the show, Simon said: "Yeah, we are. We are. You have to nowadays. It’s just gone a bit nuts. There’s a really dark side out there and Christ you’ve got
to be careful."
Simon was robbed while he, partner Lauren Silverman, 39, and son Eric, one, slept in their Holland Park mansion in December last year.
And earlier this week an alleged murderer had Simon's name on a spreadsheet of potential victims after being accused of killing an antique dealer.
Talking from his dressing room at Fountain Studios, London, ahead of Saturday night's first live show, Simon said: "It's the crazy world we live in.
"I opened up a newspaper and you’ve got one guy who’s in court because he’s robbed my house, second guy has murdered somebody and I’m number two or three on his list. It’s like 'this is getting a bit nutty'."
In 2012, Simon experienced another break-in after a woman broke into is house by smashing a bathroom window.
He called the cops before they found her hiding on a seven-foot high shelf in his walk-in wardrobe with blood smeared on the walls.
Simon added: "At the same time you don’t want to get too paranoid. Because it is what it is. I only mentioned what I said because in terms of perspective that was about as bad as it can get yesterday. Not so much for me, but for Lauren and Eric. I’m very conscious now."
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His fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger, 38, also expressed her concerns after her reality star pal Kim's brush with death.
She said: "I’s a reality check, it’s a wake-up call. I was upset when I heard because Kim’s my friend. I only care about her well-being and the kids well-being as anybody would."
The Hawaii-born judge said she had since discussed it with her Boys category on the show, and warned them to be careful of how they use social media.
She added: "Their lives will change and they will get a lot more attention. I’ve had stalkers, not to scare anybody.
"I thought I would be safe but I had people stalking me from the show. People who are
just not right in the mind. You never know so you have to be well aware. It’s a wake up call for everyone.”