South American 'Burglary tourists' strike again: Now foreign armed gangs are ... trends now
Organized criminal gangs have now begun targeting San Diego's wealthiest neighborhoods as part of an operation named 'burglary tourism,' according to a shocking new report.
'The home is carefully selected. They’ve been watching from rented cars that blend into wealthy neighborhoods. They are masked, gloved and care little about cameras. They are in and out of your home in just minutes,' San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan told NBC this week.
'When a burglary happens it’s your home, you never feel the same. This is organized. This is not some kid,' he added.
The DA says that the gangs are emanate in South American and take advantage of the Visa Waiver Program which allows residents of certain countries come to the US after filling out an online form.
Stephan said that although the program is supposed to help boost tourism, it has become the 'burglary tourist visa.'
The crooks target goods that they know they can turn around quickly, such as 'jewelry, coin collections, cash and high end purses.'
A hooded group is shown prowling around a home in an affluent San Diego suburb, authorities says they're non-nationals who are in the US on tourist visas
'The home is carefully selected. They’ve been watching from rented cars that blend into wealthy neighborhoods. They are masked, gloved and care little about cameras,' San Diego County's DA said this week
South American gangs armed with knives have been running wild on Los Angeles highways throughout 2024 - targeting terrified jewelers in brazen daytime robberies
Authorities have managed to apprehend eight suspects so far who are Chilean nationals, Stephan said. The DA said that as non-nationals, the suspects are tricky to identify.
'The mother country has the responsibility to take care of business and make sure that they’re not allowing these visas for unvetted people with criminal records,' the DA went on.
The most recent robbery committed a burglary tourist gang in the San Diego-area took place on March 29.
In February, a group stole a gun safe containing assault rifles in the Mira Mesa section of the city, The San Diego Union Tribune reported at the time. The crime remains unsolved.
Despite existing extradition laws with countries that take advantage of the waiver program, Stephan said that authorities prefer to reserve that right for the most serious of crimes.
The waiver system allows people from certain countries to enter the US for 90 days without restriction.
Conservatives allege that once here, many from Sout
In the Detroit-area, officials have said that they groups use military like tactics and have equipment that allows them to jam alarm systems
One Republican sheriff in Michigan is calling on President Joe Biden to end the waiver system to Chile, were many of the suspects hail from
Meanwhile 2,300 miles away in Detroit, officials this week said that they are preparing for a fresh wave of burglaries from Chilean tourists, reports The Detroit News.
Authorities in the area said that the burglaries began in the city's affluent suburbs in 2023. The main targets for the crimes are Asian American families.
Michigan investigators described the group as using 'military-like tactics' and wearing 'camouflage clothing.' They are armed with electronics that can jam home alarms and have the capability
