Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries targeting actors, athletes and other celebrities, Los Angeles police announced Tuesday.
Tyress Williams, 19, Tamaji Hall, 18, and Jahabi Daniels, 19, were booked on charges related to a break-in at the Woodland Hills home of NFL player Robert Woods the night of Sept. 27, LAPD Capt. Lillian Carranza said at a news conference.
The 18-year-old’s mother, 34-year-old Ashley Hall, was also arrested during a search warrant at her residence, Carranza said. Officers booked her on suspicion of grand theft in association with stolen property, including a vehicle and firearms, the captain added.
Authorities only provided the spelling for Williams’ name. According to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, Williams faced four felony counts of first-degree residential burglary.
In addition to Woods’ residence, Williams allegedly burglarized a home owned by a singer named Tota Matthieu on Aug. 24, Dodger player Yasiel Puig on Sept. 18 and Rihanna on Sept. 25.
Detectives believed that the teenagers were part of a “small, specialized group of gang members” who targeted celebrities that also included singer Christina Milian, actors Viola Davis and Matt Damon, Laker LeBron James and others.
The group allegedly selected victims by going through social media and checking tour and travel schedules. The crew would drive luxury cars through neighborhoods and assess the residences before breaking in through the door or windows, according to investigators.
The perpetrators would then ransack the home and take cash, jewelry and other property, detectives alleged.
A neighbor of Woods’ managed to witness the incident at his home and alerted the police.
Officials later that night stopped the teenagers’ vehicle in South L.A. on an unrelated incident, Carranza said. Officers reported recovering firearms and other items that appeared to be stolen in the car.
Detectives then served search warrants on the suspects’ homes, where they allegedly found $50,000 in cash and other stolen valuables.
The discovery prompted them to alert detectives in charge of the Woodland Hills burglary, according to the Police Department.
The agency believed more thieves and targets were involved and asked the public’s help identifying possible suspects or victims.
