Police called to Simon Cowell's home

Police were called to Simon Cowell's home after a prank hostage situation was reported.

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Los Angeles police were called to 'The X Factor' USA judge's Beverly Hills estate yesterday (25.11.12) after receiving an emergency call from an unidentified source claiming he was duct taped and being held hostage.

A source told gossip website TMZ.com that the female caller claimed the 53-year-old music mogul was bound and gagged in the bathroom of his sprawling mansion.

Officers believe the call was a prank after they responded in force but found no evidence of a crime.

Simon is said to have been home during the incident and assured police he was fine.

The incident is the latest in a string of celebrity swattings this year - a deliberate attempt to trick an emergency service into dispatching a response team.

Other victims have included Ashton Kutcher, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber.

Related: Justin Bieber says items stolen

Hoax burglaries were reported at both Justin and Ashton's home last month, which reportedly cost the taxpayers of Los Angeles more than ￡6,000 ($10,000) each in wasted police manpower and other resources.

Officers were called to Miley's home in August after a caller claimed her home had been broken in to but when they arrived at the scene, they discovered it was empty.