US Edition
A network of sophisticated South American “burglary tourists” is flying into Los Angeles to target homes in wealthy neighbourhoods, police have warned.
As well as LA, the gangs, known in Chile as “lanzas internacionales” (international thieves), have also targeted Michigan and New York, the police said.
But the “burglary tourism” phenomenon is causing increasing concern on both sides of the Atlantic. South American gangs have also been blamed for a spate of burglaries in wealthy London suburbs.
In recent weeks, LA police arrested a 17-year-old Chilean and two adults who were allegedly responsible for a string of burglaries across east Hollywood.
Chileans – and other South American gangs – are believed to have carried out hundreds of burglaries in Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Diego counties, the police said.
“They often target homes connected to open spaces, hiking trails and canyons that give them access,” said Alan Hamilton, the LA Police Department deputy chief.
The burglars are careful not to carry guns to avoid facing more serious weapons charges if arrested, he told the Los Angeles Times.
‘Very methodical’
Police in Michigan tell a similar story. “This group is very methodical,” said Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Orange County.
He said: “The robbers have used things like trackers on cars, they’ve used trail cams to do a pattern of life to determine when you’re coming and going.”
Such is the sophistication of the thieves that one gang leader, who was allegedly running a team in Los Angeles, used a fake passport to set up a Bank of America account to wire $23,000 (£18,000) back home.
In 2022, the FBI set up a task force to tackle the gangs.
One of the UK victims is Marcus Wareing, the celebrity chef.
Gangs have also targeted the Cheshire stockbroker belt, popular with many footballers.
Tomasz Kuszczak, the Manchester United goalkeeper, watched in horror as CCTV footage on his phone showed a gang plundering his home.
Police in Nassau County, New York broke up a gang in 2020. It was one of several operating in the New York area.
The problem has been exacerbated by the ability of Chileans to enter the US for 90 days on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta) scheme for tourists, rather than requiring a visa.
According to Todd Spitzer, the Orange County District Attorney, the Chilean government has refused to provide the US with the criminal history of its nationals using the Esta system.
Their activities will help fuel Donald Trump’s claims that South Americans are responsible for a crime wave in the US – even though in this case they are “tourists” rather than immigrants.