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Seven Columbians suspected of a string of so-called “robbery tourism” break-ins in Burbank and other Southern California cities were arrested last week in Scottsdale, Arizona, authorities said Wednesday.
Theft appears to be part of a trend involving South American groups. Members of the South American group have entered the US on tourist visas and have since targeted wealthy housing. Police say groups often steal gems and other high-value items, steal items that can be easily exchanged for cash, and use devices to circumvent home security systems by interrupting Wi-Fi signals.
Seven suspects were arrested in Arizona on Friday and are linked to robbery in Burbank and other cities in California, Oregon and Washington, police said.
Burbank Police Department officials said in a news release that in collaboration with Scottsdale police, Burbank investigators shared a description of the suspect’s vehicle after they suspected the group was heading to Arizona.
Authorities say Scottsdale police conducted group surveillance after the suspect was arrested for a short-term rental in Scottsdale after a home was robbed in Tempe and Mesa, Arizona.
The suspect, detained on $150,000 in cash-only bonds, is Nicholas Rojas Leon, 23, Joan Sebastian Orozco Vargas. Herandes Manrique, 25, according to Burbank police.
Scottsdale police officer Aaron Bolin said one female member of the group used the dog as part of the group’s cover and walked through the stolen French Bulldog and blended in with the neighborhood while acting as a guard.
According to Scottsdale police, the Bulldog was taken to a group during a robbery in California and was one of the stolen items recovered. Police say the dog is reunited with its owner. Police said they did not say which city the dog was taken from.
Phoenix’s KNXV-TV showed that armored vehicle officers were pulling up in front of the residence. Later, people can be seen handcuffed to the ground. Officers are also seen trying to catch a loose French bulldog running to a neighbor’s house.
Several Columbians suspected of being part of the South American crime ring operating in Los Angeles County were arrested last year in Glendale. Glendale police say they found several jewelry boxes and, along with a hard hat and vest from construction, police may have been used to approach the home without attracting attention.
Two members of the South American group were arrested by Los Angeles police last month after police discovered millions of dollars worth of stolen cargo in a storage unit in the San Fernando Valley.
There were about $1.2 million worth of goods in the container, including clothing and speakers. Police also intercepted a stolen Bitcoin mining computer worth $2.7 million and headed to Hong Kong as part of their business.
Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report.
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