Anyways, a few days ago, I watched a movie on Diva Universal (Astro 702 xD) called "The Bling Ring".
It's actually based on a true story but the characters are slightly different, but on the whole it's pretty much identical to a string of crimes that occured throughout 2008 and 2009.
When I watched the movie, it hadn't really occured to me that it was based on a true story.
Because, well, I thought these things were pretty impossible.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Lemme explain.
The Bling Ring, true to its name, was a group consisting of mostly teenagers who bulglarized the homes of several celebrities.
In total, their activities resulted in about $3 million in cash and belongings, most of it from Paris Hilton, whom they robbed several times.
First of all, I'd like to give some comments:
1. Ok LOL, these are teenagers we're talking about, and if they can break into celebrities' houses, in those kind of "high profile" neighbourhoods, what does that say? I mean, c'mon, is the security THAT bad?
2. Okay, is Paris Hilton or dumb or retarded or something? -,-
Okay moving on...
RACHEL LEE
There were a total of six ring participants, and the alleged ringleader of the group was Rachel Lee.
Lee is the daughter of divorced immigrant Vickie Kwon, originally from North Korea and David Lee, originally from South Korea. Both parents own successful businesses. Lee lived in Calabasas with her mother, who owns a franchise of Kumon, a tutoring company. Her father is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lee and her older sister Candace had a privileged upbringing, and she drove a white Audi A4 to school, where she was named "Best Dressed" in the 2007 yearbook. When she was in her early teens, her mother remarried, but she and her stepfather did not get along. She attended Indian Hills, an alternative school, because she had been expelled from Calabasas High School, and upon graduating was awarded a creative arts scholarship. A year after graduation, she was fined and put on probation for a petty theft incident in which she and Diana Tamayo stole $85 of merchandise from Sephora. According to Prugo, Lee was obsessed with reality television. Towards the end of the crime spree, Lee moved to Las Vegas to live with her father, which is where she was eventually taken into police custody.
NICK PRUGO
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 theexorcism 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.[7][9] The two initially bonded over their love of fashion, and Prugo claims to have been infatuated with her. 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. Their first home robbery together occurred during the summer after tenth grade, when he claims that Lee suggested they rob 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 discovered $8000 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.
(Okay, wow. The storyline of the movie really matches the real incidents. Good work! )
ALEXIS NEIERS
Alexis Neiers had been part of Lee’s social circle at Indian Hills. At one point, she was kicked out of her home by her mother for, according to police, smoking OxyContin, which she denies. Prugo took her in, and she claims that although she knew her circle of friends were committing the crimes, she only became inadvertently involved when, while drunk, she unknowingly accompanied Prugo to what turned out to be a burglary of Orlando Bloom’s home. She claimed that police searched her home and found nothing. However, police reported that they found stolen items in the possession of Neiers, her sister Gabrielle, and their sister, (through adoption), Tess Taylor, and that she was caught on camera leaving the scene of the crime with stolen bags in her possession. She initially denied any wrongdoing, but later changed her plea in court to no contest.
DIANA TAMAYO
Diana Tamayo was, in 2008, the student body President at Indian Hills, where she had been voted "best smile", and been awarded a $1,500 "Future Teacher" scholarship after graduation. She was also known for getting into fights, and according to police was an illegal Mexican immigrant. However, she was apparently affluent enough to own a Lincoln Navigator. Along with Lee, she had been fined and put on probation for engaging in petty theft. According to Prugo, her entire wardrobe consisted of stolen items. Her small size was utilized during one robbery in which she gained the group access to a home by crawling through a dog door.
(WTH??? A DOG DOOR? SERIOUSLY?!! -,-)
COURTNEY AMES
Courtney Ames, whose stepfather is boxer Randy Shields, was a Calabasas High School student and an "old friend" of Lee’s. It was through Ames that the others met Lopez and Ajar, her boyfriend.
JOHNNY AJAR
Ajar, a former convict nicknamed "Johnny Dangerous", is not believed to have participated in the burglaries, but was recruited by Ames, his girlfriend, to sell some of the stolen items for cash. He was raised in housing projects around Reseda, outside of the group’s community, the son of a father who was a career criminal and drug addict. He had previously spent 2 years in federal prison, having been convicted for drug trafficking in Wyoming at age 22. Ajar first met Ames and her friends at a nightclub called The Green Door, and allowed them access even though they used fake IDs. At the time of the burglaries, he worked as a promoter for club Les Deux Café.
ROY LOPEZ, JR.
Lopez and Ames had worked together at a restaurant and bar in Calabasas. Ames had recruited him as a reseller, and he also participated in burgling at least one victim, Paris Hilton, from whom he is alleged to have stolen $2 million in jewelry, which he carried out with him in a Louis Vuitton bag. He was unable to sell off most of it.
Reported victims include Paris Hilton, Audrina Partridge, Rachel Bilson, Orlanda Bloom and Miranda Kerr, Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox, and last but not least, Lindsay Lohan.
Wow, these people sure have good taste.
Anyway, in the movie, Nick Prugo I'm guessing is a character named Zack Garvey, which by the way, is WAY TOO CUTE for the likes of Prugo, who is just.. ick.
But y'know, movies have to look good. -,-
Okay, that's it from me.
Yours with a cherry on top plus lovin' the luxuries in life,
Qi Cheng :)
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| Original Bling Ring |
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| "Rachel Lee" and "Nick Prugo" but in the movie their characters are Natalie Kim and Zack Garvey.
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