Monday, November 9, 2009

Burglary Gang Found Doors Unlocked at Celeb Homes

While some Hollywood stars are vigilant about guarding their private lives, others are apparently leaving doors wide open.

Suspects in the teen burglary gang – who allegedly made off with more than $3 million in jewelry, clothes and other luxury goods from the homes of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox and at least five other celebrities – gained entry to the homes mainly by finding doors unlocked, according to a search warrant released in the case.

The stars' security was lax in other ways: At Lohan's residence, the suspects broke in by prying open a window using a screwdriver, the documents say. The gang allegedly used basic internet research to figure out where celebrities lived, when they weren't in town, and then watched the homes for the opportune moment to break in.

Recovered Loot
The search warrant shows that suspect Nicholas Prugo, 18, confessed to pulling off the crimes and implicated a list of other suspects including Rachel Lee, 19, whom he said was the "driving force" behind the crime spree. Lee wanted to "own the designer wardrobes of the Hollywood celebrities she admired," the document states.

The search warrant also says that Prugo and Lee broke into Paris Hilton and Rachel Bilson's homes several times.

The burglary victims include Orlando Bloom, Audrina Patridge, Brian Austin Green, and Ashley Tisdale. Some $2 million in stolen goods has since been recovered, but police said much more has yet to be found.

Other suspects are Diana Tamayo, 19, Alexis Neiers, 18, Courtney Ames, 18, Roy Lopez, 27, and Jonathan Ajar, 27. An attorney for Lee hasn't returned calls for comment. Sean Erenstoft, an attorney for Prugo, stated his client's role in the crimes was limited, while lawyer Jeffery Rubenstein said he believes his client, Neiers, will be cleared of all charges.

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