A young woman broke into the homes of Hollywood celebrities she admired, including Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge, because she wanted to own their designer clothes and jewellery, an informant has told police.
According to a Las Vegas police search warrant obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, Nicholas Prugo told Los Angeles police detectives that Rachel Jungeon Lee was the "driving force" behind the break-ins.
Prugo told police Lee, 19, would suggest a target, then Prugo would trawl the internet for information about where they lived and when they would be away from home. Las Vegas police were involved because Lee lives there.
Police say the two were part of a group of at least six that stole from October 2008 until September 2009.
After watching a house, they would break into the poorly protected properties, often by simply walking through unlocked doors.
Prugo said they removed cash, narcotics and thousands of dollars worth of jewellery, including family heirlooms.
Acting on a tip, police arrested 18-year-old Prugo on September 17. He initially refused to talk to police but on October 6, he and his lawyer met with detectives and Prugo "provided a full confession, and implicated several other suspects," court documents state.
"Prugo admitted to committing all of the burglaries and that Rachel Lee was with him during the residential burglaries of the homes of Audrina Patridge, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson and the Hilton family," the search warrant states.
"Prugo stated that it was Lee who would suggest a target and that he would surf the internet to learn where the celebrity lived as well as the target's travel itinerary."
Prugo said Lee was motivated by her desire to "own the designer wardrobes of the Hollywood celebrities she admired."
At least six people have been arrested in the case. They include 18-year-olds Courtney Ames and Alexis Neiers, and Diana Tamayo, 19.
Ray Lopez Jr and Jonathan Ajar, both 27, also were arrested. Ajar faces 10 felony charges after detectives found drugs and weapons at his home during a search. Ajar was convicted of a federal drug charge in 2002 and was not supposed to possess firearms.
The search warrant states Prugo told police he and Lee broke into Hilton's house several times. At the Lohan house, the burglary crew gained entrance by prying open a window with a screwdriver then swiped luggage, clothing and jewellery, including a Rolex wristwatch with a blue face, Prugo told police.
He said expensive watches were also a target at Bloom's house and several were stolen along with artwork and clothing.
Prosecutors have filed felony residential burglary charges against Neiers, Ames, Tamayo and Lopez Jr.
