Like many teen girls, these friends were fascinated by the high fashion and flashy bling of young celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, below top, Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge, below middle. But unlike other fans, they allegedly didn't stop at Hollywood fantasy.
According to Los Angeles police detectives, the group studied television, celebrity magazines and websites, choosing clothing and jewelry they wanted. Then, they figured out where the celebrities lived and, after casing the houses, broke in and took what they wanted, detectives allege.
"They saw it, they wanted it, they took it and continued taking it," Los Angeles police detective Brett Goodkin said.
Police sources said detectives have linked the teenagers to break-ins at the homes of Hilton, Lohan and Patridge, as well as "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor Orlando Bloom, below bottom, and "The O.C." star Rachel Bilson.
Four teens -- Rachel Lee, 19; Diana Tamayo, 19; Courtney Ames, 18; and Alexis Neiers, 18 -- were arrested last week on suspicion of burglary in several of the cases. The L.A. County district attorney's office has not filed charges against them.
Jeffrey K. Rubenstein, Neiers' attorney, said, "This is a case of someone in the wrong place at the wrong time." Attorneys for Tamayo, Lee and Ames could not be reached for comment.
Two men also have been arrested in the cases.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
