Celebrity Burglars Plead ‘Not Guilty’

Four people have denied burgling the homes of Hollywood celebrities, including Orlando Bloom and Lindsay Lohan, in a Los Angeles court.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to a series of break-ins, which led to the theft of $3m (£1.8m) worth of property, including jewelery and clothes.

A fifth person, Alexis Neiers, was ordered to stand trial over the burglary of actor Bloom’s home.

The suspects could face up to six years in prison if convicted.

‘Confession’

Nicholas Prugo denied seven charges of burglary in court.

According to police documents released last month, 19-year-old Prugo confessed to the break-ins and implicated several other suspects during questioning by detectives, including a Las Vegas woman who has not been charged.

Diana Tamayo, Courtney Leigh Ames and 27-year-old Roy Lopez Jr also pleaded not guilty to burglary.

Mr Prugo’s lawyer argued that he should be separated from the rest of the group because his police statements have already been used in relation to Ms Neiers’ case.

But his request was turned down by the judge.

The burglaries on a number of Hollywood homes were carried out from December 2008 to earlier this year.

The celebrity victims, which included Paris Hilton and Megan Fox, were not at home when the break-ins took place, usually through doors, windows and even a cat flap.

The group allegedly used celebrity magazines to decide which stars they would target, and maps to pinpoint the location of their homes.

The intrusion into Lohan’s home was captured on CCTV.

BBC

Lilo Burglars ‘Worship’ her & others

Police have arrested six people, mostly teens, on suspicion of breaking into the homes of Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Lindsay Lohan and other Hollywood figures to satisfy a celebrity obsession and steal from them, authorities said on Tuesday.

“They were rabid consumers of everything celebrity,” Los Angeles police officer Brett Goodkin told Reuters.

He added that the suspects were motivated by “profit and celebrity worship.”

Nicholas Prugo, 18, was charged last week with burglary at the homes of “Mean Girls” actress Lindsay Lohan and reality star Audrina Patridge of MTV show “The Hills.”

Police investigating the break-ins later arrested Rachel Lee, 18; Courtney Ames, 18; Alexis Neiers, 18; Diana Tamayo, 19; and Roy Lopez Jr, 27 on suspicion of burglary.

Prugo is accused of stealing more than $170,000 in jewelry and clothes and faces up to six years in prison if convicted. The others have not yet been formally charged.

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