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LOS ANGELES - A gang of burglars who targetted homes belonging to celebrities including Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton had compiled a database of more than 50 luxury mansions, it was reported Thursday.
TMZ.com reported that the robbers -- dubbed "The Burglar Bunch" by the US media -- had a computer containing aerial photos of 51 multi-million-dollar homes mostly in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles.
The revelation is the latest twist in the case of the celebrity-obsessed burglars, whose victims are also believed to have included "Lord of the Rings" actor Orlando Bloom and "Transformers" sex symbol Megan Fox.
According to police and prosecutors, the gang -- which includes several teenagers -- selected their celebrity targets by scrutinizing entertainment websites to determine whether their victims were likely to be at home.
The theft ring is believed to have stolen more than three million dollars in jewellery, designer clothes and accessories during a spree that began in December 2008 and continued through October.
"Beginning in late 2008, LAPD became aware of a string of residential burglaries involving celebrities as victims," Los Angeles police captain Beatrice Girmala said earlier this week.
"Diligence and exhaustive follow-up by LAPD detectives led to the linkage of 10 cases, and these 10 cases led us to a ring of suspects who utilized technology and various Internet resources to track the calendars of high-profile celebrities."
“Hollywood detectives tenaciously took these leads and -- facilitated by videotaped surveillance -- were able to uncover information leading to the identification of seven suspects."
Accused so far are Courtney Ames and Alexis Neirs, both 18, Diana Tamayo, 19, and 27-year-old Roy Lopez Jr., all arrested on October 22.
A fifth suspect, Rachel Lee, 18, was arrested in Las Vegas, but no charges have been filed.
Five additional burglary charges have been filed against 18-year-old Nicholas Prugo who was arrested September 11 and previously charged with two counts of burglary.
Los Angeles police have also identified a seventh suspect who remains at large. - AFP/vm
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