A group of thieves who focused on California properties belonging to celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan had created a database comprised of more than 50 luxury mansions, it was reported this week.

Branded as “The Burglar Bunch” by the American media, the gang had aerial photographs of a total of 51 multi-million-dollar villas mostly located in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Los Angeles.

This news emerged as the latest event in a series of cases which have been involving celebrity burglars, whose victims are said to have also included Transformers sex symbol Megan Fox and Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom.

According to prosecutors and police investigators, the thieves, which had amongst them several teenagers, picked their celebrity victims by gathering information obtained from articles written in entertainment websites, which would mention if the stars would be away from their home for a while.

The gang is understood to be responsible for the theft of three million dollars in jewellery, designer clothes and accessories during a crime spree which lasted from December 2008 through October 2009.

According to Los Angeles police captain Beatrice Girmala, the LAPD noted late last year that there had been a series of residential burglaries at the homes of celebrities.

Captain Girmala said that LAPD detectives carried out a diligent and exhaustive follow-up which linked members of the gang to 10 cases, and these 10 cases led authorities to a ring of suspects who were using modern technology and internet resources to keep track of the movements of high-profile celebrities.

Charged in the crime spree so far are 18-year-old Alexis Neirs and Courtney Ames, 19-year-old Diana Tamayo and 27-year-old Roy Lopez Jr, who were all arrested on October 22. Rachel Lee, 18, was later arrested in Las Vegas although the suspect has not been charged.

A sixth suspect arrested on September 11, 18-year-old Nicholas Prugo, has received five additional burglary charges to his previous two counts of burglary. LA police are still looking for a seventh suspect.