Latest news with #JoanSebastianOrozco-Vargas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Colombian 'burglary tourism' suspects arrested in a string of Burbank home break-ins
Seven Colombian nationals, suspected in a string of so-called "burglary tourism" home break-ins in Burbank and other Southern California cities, were arrested last week in Scottsdale, Ariz., authorities said Wednesday. The thefts appear to be part of a trend involving South American groups, whose members enter the U.S. on tourist visas and then target wealthy residences. The groups often steal jewelry and other high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash, according to police, and may evade home security systems by using devices to interrupt Wi-Fi signals. The seven suspects were arrested in Arizona on Friday and are linked to burglaries in Burbank and other cities in California, Oregon and Washington, police said. Officials with the Burbank Police Department said in a news release that they worked with Scottsdale police to share descriptions of the suspects' cars after Burbank investigators suspected the group was headed to Arizona. Scottsdale police conducted surveillance on the group as residences were burglarized in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz. The suspects were arrested at a short-term rental in Scottsdale after police served a search warrant at the site, according to authorities. The suspects, who are 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, Lady Johanna Gueito, 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25, according to Burbank police. Scottsdale Police Officer Aaron Bolin said one of the female members of the group used a dog as part of the group's cover, walking a stolen French bulldog to blend in with the neighborhood while acting as a lookout. The bulldog was taken by the group during a burglary in California and was among the stolen items recovered, according to Scottsdale police. The dog is being reunited with its owner, according to police, who didn't reveal what city the dog was taken from. KNXV-TV in Phoenix showed video of officers in armored vehicles pulling up in front of a residence. Later, people can be seen sitting handcuffed on the ground. Officers are also seen trying to catch a loose French bulldog running to a neighbor's house. Several Colombian nationals suspected of being part of a South American crime ring operating in Los Angeles County were arrested last year in Glendale. Glendale police said that they found several jewelry boxes, along with a construction hard hat and a vest, which police say may have been used to get near a home without drawing attention. Last month, two members of a South American group were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department after police found millions of dollars' worth of stolen cargo in a San Fernando Valley storage unit, according to the LAPD. About $1.2 million worth of goods, including clothing and speakers, was found in the container. Police also intercepted stolen bitcoin-mining computers, valued at $2.7 million, headed to Hong Kong as part of the operation. Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Colombian 'burglary tourism' suspects arrested in a string of Burbank home break-ins
Seven Colombian nationals, suspected in a string of so-called "burglary tourism" home break-ins in Burbank and other Southern California cities, were arrested last week in Scottsdale, Ariz., authorities said Wednesday. The thefts appear to be part of a trend involving South American groups, whose members enter the U.S. on tourist visas and then target wealthy residences. The groups often steal jewelry and other high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash, according to police, and may evade home security systems by using devices to interrupt Wi-Fi signals. The seven suspects were arrested in Arizona on Friday and are linked to burglaries in Burbank and other cities in California, Oregon and Washington, police said. Officials with the Burbank Police Department said in a news release that they worked with Scottsdale police to share descriptions of the suspects' cars after Burbank investigators suspected the group was headed to Arizona. Scottsdale police conducted surveillance on the group as residences were burglarized in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz. The suspects were arrested at a short-term rental in Scottsdale after police served a search warrant at the site, according to authorities. The suspects, who are 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, Lady Johanna Gueito, 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25, according to Burbank police. Scottsdale Police Officer Aaron Bolin said one of the female members of the group used a dog as part of the group's cover, walking a stolen French bulldog to blend in with the neighborhood while acting as a lookout. The bulldog was taken by the group during a burglary in California and was among the stolen items recovered, according to Scottsdale police. The dog is being reunited with its owner, according to police, who didn't reveal what city the dog was taken from. KNXV-TV in Phoenix showed video of officers in armored vehicles pulling up in front of a residence. Later, people can be seen sitting handcuffed on the ground. Officers are also seen trying to catch a loose French bulldog running to a neighbor's house. Several Colombian nationals suspected of being part of a South American crime ring operating in Los Angeles County were arrested last year in Glendale. Glendale police said that they found several jewelry boxes, along with a construction hard hat and a vest, which police say may have been used to get near a home without drawing attention. Last month, two members of a South American group were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department after police found millions of dollars' worth of stolen cargo in a San Fernando Valley storage unit, according to the LAPD. About $1.2 million worth of goods, including clothing and speakers, was found in the container. Police also intercepted stolen bitcoin-mining computers, valued at $2.7 million, headed to Hong Kong as part of the operation. Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Colombian ‘burglary tourism' suspects arrested in a string of Burbank home break-ins
Seven Colombian nationals, suspected in a string of so-called 'burglary tourism' home break-ins in Burbank and other Southern California cities were arrested last week in Scottsdale, Ariz., authorities said Wednesday. The thefts appear to be part of a trend involving South American groups, whose members enter the U.S. on tourist visas and then target wealthy residences. The groups often steal jewelry and other high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash, according to police, and may evade home security systems by using devices to interrupt Wi-Fi signals. The seven suspects were arrested in Arizona on May 23 and are linked to burglaries in Burbank and other cities in California, Oregon and Washington, police said. Officials with the Burbank Police Department said in a news release that they worked with Scottsdale police to share descriptions of the suspects' cars after Burbank investigators suspected the group was headed to Arizona. Scottsdale police conducted surveillance on the group as residences were burglarized in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz. The suspects were later arrested at a short-term rental in Scottsdale on May 23 after police served a search warrant at the site, according to authorities. The suspects, who are 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, Lady Johanna Gueito, 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25, according to Burbank police. Scottsdale police officer Aaron Bolin said one of the female members of the group allegedly used a dog as part of the group's cover, walking a stolen French bulldog to blend in with the neighborhood while acting as a lookout, said Bolin. The bulldog was allegedly taken taken by the group during a burglary in California and was among the stolen items recovered, according to Scottsdale police. The dog is being reunited with its owner, according to police, who didn't reveal what city the dog lives in. KNXV-TV in Phoenix showed video of officers in armored vehicles pulling up in front of a residence. Later, people can be seen sitting handcuffed on the ground. Officers are also seen trying to catch a loose French bulldog running to a neighbor's house. Several Colombian nationals suspected of being part of a South American crime ring operating in Los Angeles County were arrested last year in Glendale. Glendale police said that they found several jewelry boxes, along with a construction hard hat and a vest, which police say may have been used to get near a home without drawing attention. Last month, two members of a South American group were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department after police found millions of dollars worth of stolen cargo in a San Fernando Valley storage unit, according to the LAPD. About $1.2 million worth of goods, including clothing and speakers, was found in the container. Police also intercepted stolen bitcoin-mining computers, valued at $2.7 million, headed to Hong Kong as part of the operation. Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
7 members of South American theft group arrested for Phoenix burglaries
Seven members of a "South American Theft Group (SATG)" were arrested Friday for their involvement in two Phoenix-area burglaries, authorities said Saturday. Both heists – one in Tempe and another in Mesa – were committed on May 23, the Scottsdale Police Department said. All seven suspects were arrested on Friday at a short-term rental where they were staying, police said. Scottsdale Police were alerted to the group on May 20 by the Burbank Police Department in California. They were warned about a SATG group from Colombia that had allegedly committed burglaries in California, Oregon and Washington, and were possibly headed to Arizona. Exclusive Video: Dhs Nabs Numerous Suspects In Dramatic Sting Of Rival La Gangs Among the stolen property in California was a French Bulldog, which will be given back to its owner, police said. Read On The Fox News App Authorities in California shared the group's vehicle descriptions and other information with Arizona authorities. Scottsdale detectives eventually tracked the suspects down to the short-term rental property, police said. From May 20-22, authorities watched the group and followed them to the burglarized homes on May 23, police said. Colombian Nationals Arrested In Connection With Dozens Of Home Burglaries In Oregon: Police "They observed all seven suspects coordinate and participate in burglary activity at both locations," a police statement said. The suspects were identified as: Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23; Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26; Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38; Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26; Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28; Lady Johanna Gueito, 32; and 25-year-old Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique. Each suspect was ordered held in the Maricopa County Jail pending "numerous criminal charges" on $150,000 cash-only article source: 7 members of South American theft group arrested for Phoenix burglaries
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Scottsdale Police announce arrest of 'South American Theft Group' members
The Brief Seven members of the alleged "South American Theft Group" were arrested on May 23. Scottsdale Police were informed by other agencies that the group was coming to Arizona ahead of time. The theft ring was tracked for multiple days and they are accused of two robberies on the same day in Mesa and Tempe. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Seven members of an alleged "South American Theft Group" (SATG) were arrested on May 23 for two burglaries. The group is accused of committing both burglaries on May 23. One was in Tempe at located near Southern Avenue and Loop 101 and the other in Mesa near Brown Road and Val Vista Drive. They are also accused of burglaries in California, Oregon and Washington. The backstory According to Scottsdale Police, they learned from other agencies the group was headed to Arizona and booked a short-term rental near Camelback and Miller roads. Police set up surveillance on the rental and followed the group as they coordinated and executed burglaries at the two homes. The home in Tempe was burglarized around 12:25 p.m. and the Mesa home was burglarized about an hour later. At 4 p.m. that day, SWAT team aided in conducting a search warrant at the property were all seven suspects were taken into custody and evidence of the burglaries was recovered by detectives. The seven suspects include five people in their 20s and two in their 30s: 23-year-old Nicolas Rojas Leon 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas 38-year-old Andres David Sanchez-Novoa 26-year-old Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza 28-year-old Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman 32-year-old Lady Johanna Gueito 25-year-old Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique What's next The stolen property, including a French Bulldog believed to be taken during a burglary in California, will be returned to the victims.
