Four Charged in Celeb Burglaries Case

Los Angeles - Four people were charged with burglary today for allegedly taking part in a crime spree that targeted the homes of celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Audrina Patridge and Megan Fox.

Courtney Ames and Alexis Neirs, both 18, Diana Tamayo, 19, and 27-year- old Roy Lopez Jr. were all arrested Oct. 22 and released on bail. A fifth suspect, Rachel Lee, 18, was arrested in Las Vegas, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to immediately file charges against her, pending further investigation.

In addition to the charges against Ames, Neirs, Tamayo and Lopez, five additional burglary charges were filed against 18-year-old Nicholas Prugo, of Calabasas, who was arrested Sept. 11 and previously charged with two counts of burglary.

Los Angeles police identified another suspect earlier today named Jonathan Ajar, who remains at large.

According to police and prosecutors, the theft ring swiped more than $3 million in jewelry, designer clothes and accessories during a spree that began in December and continued through at least Oct. 11.

"Beginning in late 2008, LAPD became aware of a string of residential burglaries involving celebrities as victims," Los Angeles police Capt. Beatrice Girmala said. "Diligence and exhaustive follow-up by LAPD detectives led to the linkage of 10 cases, and these 10 cases led us to a ring of suspects who utilized technology and various Internet resources to track the calendars of high-profile celebrities. Hollywood detectives tenaciously took these leads and -- facilitated by videotaped surveillance -- were able to uncover information leading to the identification of seven suspects."

Among the people who were victimized were Lohan, Hilton, Patridge, Fox, Brian Austin Green, Rachel Bilson and Orlando Bloom, prosecutors said.

Surveillance footage from an Aug. 23 burglary showed a male and two females with their faces covered by scarves walking through a gate and into the courtyard near Lohan's home.

Surveillance footage from a Feb. 23 burglary at Patridge's home, which the actress posted on the Internet, showed a male and a female walking near her home, then breaking in and leaving with two bags. Prosecutors said more than $43,000 in jewelry and designer clothes was stolen.

Prugo, who is now charged with seven counts of residential burglary, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 12.

Tamayo, of Newbury Park, is charged with two counts of residential burglary and is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 17. Neirs is expected to be arraigned Nov. 16 on one count of burglary. Ames will arraigned Nov. 20 and Lopez will be arraigned Nov. 23, both on single counts of burglary.