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Teenage Burglars Used Social Media To Target Celebrity Homes Based On Travel Schedules

Teenage Burglars Used Social Media To Target Celebrity Homes Based On Travel Schedules

Written by Dana Sanchez

Oct 05, 2018

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It took the Los Angeles Police Department more than a year to solve a series of sophisticated burglaries targeting some of Hollywood’s top celebrities and athletes.

The list of victims included L.A. Dodgers player Yasiel Puig, singer-actresses Rihanna and Christina Milian, and the burglaries became the talk of Hollywood.

On Tuesday, police announced the arrests of four members of a crew after a break-in at the San Fernando Valley home of L.A. Rams player Robert Woods during a game last week, LA Times reported.

Inside the home of one of the burglars, police found a list of a dozen future targets that included LeBron James, Viola Davis and Matt Damon.

LAPD Capt. Lillian Carranza referred to the method used by the burglars as “flocking”.

“They flock like birds to areas where the rich and famous resided,” she said during a news conference Tuesday. “Once a potential target home was selected, a larger vehicle would be utilized to give the suspects the opportunity to change into more comfortable clothing and hoodies to avoid being recognized and cart away the stolen goods.”

The LAPD released a surveillance video showing two men burglarizing Puig’s home last month and asked the public to help identify them. In the video, the men are seen dragging a safe downstairs before fleeing, CNN affiliate KTLA reported.

Suspects picked the celebrity homes based on social media postings and celebrities’ travel schedules, CNN reported.

Three teens and a 34-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the burglaries. Police recovered numerous items they believe were stolen from celebrity homes.

After getting a search warrant, authorities allegedly recovered more than $50,000 in cash, designer handbags, watches, jewelry, and a stolen vehicle at one of the suspects’ homes, People reported. Police believe the suspects may be involved in other burglaries.

celebrity homes
The homes of Yasiel Puig, Rihanna and Robert Woods have all been burglarized recently, according to police. (John Minchillo / Associated Press; Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images; Associated Press)

 

The robberies have been compared to the infamous, mainly teenaged Bling Ring, a five-person Los Angeles gang that robbed the homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Orlando Bloom in 2008 and 2009. Their actions inspired “The Bling Ring”, a 2013 film starring Emma Watson.

The LAPD displayed some of the stolen items during an afternoon press conference in the hopes of returning them to their owners, Page Six reported.

 

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