A gang of burglars who targeted homes belonging to celebrities including Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton had compiled a database of more than 50 luxury mansions, it was reported on 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.
Stole more than R23-million
The theft ring is believed to have stolen more than R23-million in jewellery, designer clothes and accessories during a spree that began in December 2008 and continued through to 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 in September and previously charged with two counts of burglary. Los Angeles police have also identified a seventh suspect who remains at large.
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