"Catwoman" Julie Newmar Helps Catch Cat Burglar Who Allegedly Snatched $25,000 in Jewels

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(JulieNewmar.com)

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

NEW YORK (CBS/KCAL) Every villain knows you don't mess with Catwoman. A burglar who allegedly stole $25,000 worth of jewelry from famed "Catwoman" actress Julie Newmar found out the hard way.

Photo: Actress Julie Newmar as Catwoman.

Robert Ouriel, 48, of West Los Angeles, was charged with grand theft and scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Police say Ouriel, an aquaintance of Newmar's, tried to sell the stolen gems on the online auction site, eBay.

Newmar, who is best known for her role as Catwoman in the original "Batman" television series, noticed several items missing from her West Los Angeles home between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3, 2008, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Photo: Julie Newmar, "Cat Woman", and Adam West, "Batman."

Newmar later spotted three of the items for sale on eBay. Prosecutors claim Ouriel shipped the stolen items to an Illinois pawnbroker, who later posted them on the Web site.

Ouriel was arrested Nov. 19 and released on $50,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.

Story Contributed by CBS Affiliate KCAL