In a recent development, the Glendale Police Department apprehended four Colombian nationals, suspected to be part of a South American "burglary tourism" ring operating within Los Angeles County.
The arrest took place during a traffic stop in the Emerald Isle neighborhood, shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Monday, according to the police department's news release.
The suspects, identified as Bryan Martinez Vargas, 28; Jose Antonio Velasquez, 28; Edison Arley Pinzon Fandino, 27; and Luis Carlos Moreno, 29, were driving out of a cul-de-sac with their car's headlights off when officers intercepted them. The subsequent search of their vehicle revealed a video surveillance device camouflaged with leaves in a Whole Foods bag, along with a portable battery charging pack. A planter was also discovered on the street, believed to be the original location of the surveillance device.
The police department suggests that the suspects could potentially learn a person's schedule by placing the device near a home and retrieving it later. The officers also found several jewelry boxes, a construction hard hat, and a vest in the suspects' car. These items could be used to approach a home without arousing suspicion, according to the police.
The four men were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. This was not the first encounter between the police and Martinez Vargas. On April 30, officers from a burglary task force responded to a residential burglary call in the Crescenta Highlands neighborhood. During this call, a high-speed chase ensued, culminating in the suspects driving their car off the shoulder of a freeway exit, as captured by a police vehicle's camera footage.
During the pursuit, the suspects attempted to discard stolen items and a device used to interrupt Wi-Fi signals associated with home security systems. Martinez Vargas and William Guanume, 45, were in the car and subsequently taken into custody. The charges faced by the men in relation to this incident remain unclear.
The Glendale Police Department believes that Martinez Vargas and the other suspects are part of a "burglary tourism" ring. Glendale Police Chief Manny Cid expressed frustration over the situation, particularly given that Martinez Vargas was arrested just weeks after his previous arrest.
Glendale is not alone in being targeted by foreign nationals suspected of entering the U.S. under the pretense of tourism, only to burglarize high-end residential neighborhoods. Police officials have noted an increasing trend over the past five years of thieves from South American nations exploiting the tourist visa system, which does not necessitate a background check for travelers. Once in the country, these individuals allegedly plan heists, fence the stolen goods, and send their earnings back home.
These groups primarily target affluent neighborhoods, where homes contain jewelry and high-value items that can be easily converted into cash. Earlier this year, Los Angeles police arrested a 17-year-old fugitive and three others from Chile while they were surveying homes in Pacific Palisades.
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