Bling Ring
| Named after | Female celebrity targets |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Calabasas, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 2008–2009 |
| Territory | Los Angeles County, California |
| Leader(s) | Rachel Lee |
| Criminal activities | Burglary |
| Notable members |
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The Bling Ring (also known as Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch, The Burglar Bunch, and the Hollywood Hills Burglars) were a group of convicted thieves consisting of eight teenagers and young adults based in and around Calabasas, California. They burgled the homes of several celebrities over a period believed to have been between October 2008 through August 2009. Their activities resulted in the theft of about $3 million in cash and belongings. Much of the stolen property belonged to Paris Hilton, whose house had been burgled several times, though over fifty homes were reportedly targeted for potential burglary.
The ringleader of the group, Lee lived in Calabasas with her mother. Lee and her older sister had a privileged upbringing, and she drove a white Audi A4 to school, where she was named "Best Dressed" in the 2007 yearbook. She attended Indian Hills High School, an alternative school, because she had been expelled from Calabasas High School and upon graduating was awarded a creative arts scholarship. A year later, she was fined and put on probation for a petty theft incident in which she and Diana Tamayo stole $85 of merchandise from a Sephora cosmetics store. According to fellow burglar Nick Prugo, Lee was obsessed with reality television. Toward the end of the crime spree, Lee moved to Las Vegas to live with her father.
Nicholas Frank Prugo was reported to be a shy and friendless teen prescribed Concerta for ADHD and Zoloft for anxiety, who was transferred to Indian Hills High School after being expelled from Calabasas High School for excessive absences. In 2003, Prugo had a role as "Kenny" in Little Lost Souls: Children Possessed, a made-for-TV quasi-documentary about the exorcism of children whose parents believe them to be possessed by evil. Lee befriended Prugo after he arrived at Indian Hills, and introduced him to most of the other people who would eventually join the crime spree. The two initially bonded over their interest in fashion and social media. After being accepted into her circle of friends and participating in their nightlife activities, Prugo became hooked on drugs, and began stealing from his parents to support his addiction. The first home they burgled together occurred during the summer after tenth grade, when he claims that Lee suggested they burgle the residence of an acquaintance from Woodland Hills whom Prugo knew to be out of town at the time. Prugo claims to have been reluctant, but didn't want to risk losing her friendship. During that first burglary, they reportedly discovered $8,000 in cash hidden under a bed. They split the money, and the next day went on a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive. Prugo and Lee began checking the doors of expensive cars parked in their neighborhood, to see if they were unlocked, on an almost nightly basis. They would take credit cards found in the cars, and go shopping the next day in areas like Melrose Avenue. They would be dressed well, and according to Prugo, merchants never questioned their use of the cards. He was sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading no contest to 3 counts of first degree residential burglary. He was released from prison on probation after serving 1 year.
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