Seven Colombian nationals, suspected in a string of so-called “housebreaking tourism” dwelling break-ins in Burbank and different Southern California cities, have been arrested final week in Scottsdale, Ariz., authorities mentioned Wednesday.
The thefts look like a part of a pattern involving South American teams, whose members enter the U.S. on vacationer visas after which goal rich residences. The teams typically steal jewellery and different high-value gadgets that may be simply exchanged for money, based on police, and will evade dwelling safety methods through the use of gadgets to interrupt Wi-Fi indicators.
The seven suspects have been arrested in Arizona on Friday and are linked to burglaries in Burbank and different cities in California, Oregon and Washington, police mentioned.
Officers with the Burbank Police Division mentioned in a information launch that they labored with Scottsdale police to share descriptions of the suspects’ vehicles after Burbank investigators suspected the group was headed to Arizona.
Scottsdale police performed surveillance on the group as residences have been burglarized in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz. The suspects have been arrested at a short-term rental in Scottsdale after police served a search warrant on the web site, based on authorities.
The suspects, who’re being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond, are Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23, Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26, Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38, Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26, Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28, Woman Johanna Gueito, 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25, based on Burbank police.
Scottsdale Police Officer Aaron Bolin mentioned one of many feminine members of the group used a canine as a part of the group’s cowl, strolling a stolen French bulldog to mix in with the neighborhood whereas appearing as a lookout.
The bulldog was taken by the group throughout a housebreaking in California and was among the many stolen gadgets recovered, based on Scottsdale police. The canine is being reunited with its proprietor, based on police, who didn’t reveal what metropolis the canine was taken from.
KNXV-TV in Phoenix confirmed video of officers in armored automobiles pulling up in entrance of a residence. Later, folks may be seen sitting handcuffed on the bottom. Officers are additionally seen attempting to catch a free French bulldog working to a neighbor’s home.
A number of Colombian nationals suspected of being a part of a South American crime ring working in Los Angeles County have been arrested final 12 months in Glendale. Glendale police mentioned that they discovered a number of jewellery containers, together with a building arduous hat and a vest, which police say might have been used to get close to a house with out drawing consideration.
Final month, two members of a South American group have been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Division after police discovered tens of millions of {dollars}’ price of stolen cargo in a San Fernando Valley storage unit, based on the LAPD.
About $1.2 million price of products, together with clothes and audio system, was discovered within the container. Police additionally intercepted stolen bitcoin-mining computer systems, valued at $2.7 million, headed to Hong Kong as a part of the operation.
Instances workers author Nathan Solis contributed to this report.
