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Celebrity culture fed thieves

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The Associated Press

Published: November 2, 2009

LOS ANGELES - For a group of Hollywood-obsessed teens, entertainment news on the Internet offered more than a glimpse into the lives of stars. It helped them break into celebrities' homes.

The teens tracked the movements of stars, such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, and broke into their houses, making off with millions of dollars in possessions in a spree that lasted almost a year.

With a few clicks on the Internet, police say, the suspects developed a wish list of designer clothes and jewelry, then raided the homes while celebrities were away.

"They thought it was fun, kind of an adrenaline rush," Los Angeles police Officer Brett Goodkin said. "They would go in and steal the celebrity's clothes and possessions, things they could never afford on their own."

Police arrested four women and two men on suspicion of burglarizing 10 homes in the Hollywood Hills. In addition to Lohan and Hilton, other victims were Orlando Bloom, Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green, Ashley Tisdale, Rachel Bilson and "The Hills" star Audrina Patridge.

Police said the teens scoured celebrity blogs and Web sites looking for valuables, and used the Internet to find where the stars lived.

After watching a home, they would break into poorly protected properties through doors, windows and, in one case, a doggy door. The burglaries lasted from October 2008 until September.

Items stolen "run the gamut of high-end designer clothing," Goodkin said. "You could pick a designer, and they would be among what was taken."

Police displayed an evidence photograph last week showing about $2 million in stolen jewelry that was recovered and returned to Hilton. The thieves snatched dozens of pieces of flashy, gem-encrusted jewelry, then made off with it in the socialite's Louis Vuitton bag.

The robberies were driven by "celebrity infatuation and greed," Goodkin said.

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