![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/burglary-300x246.jpg\")
<\/a> In the shadowy world of organized crime, a peculiar breed of criminals has <\/span>emerged<\/span>: South American Theft Groups<\/strong>. They are burglars often referred to as “crime tourists” because they enter the U.S. legally under the Visa Waiver Program that has been in place with Chile since 2014.\u00a0 The Chilean waiver is the only one issued to a South American country. It allows Chileans to be in the U.S. for 90 days for either personal or business reasons.\u00a0 The problem is that for some, their “business” is robbing Americans.\u00a0 This problem has existed for around five years (with a short break due to Covid travel restrictions) and has recently emerged in the greater Phoenix area.\u00a0 Since December there have been 111 burglaries netting more than $3 million…and counting<\/strong>!\u00a0 They almost always hit during the early evening when people are out to dinner, thus earning them the nickname of “The Dinner Time Burglars”.\u00a0 This group is a growing problem nationally – in the past month there has been a rash of burglaries in Philadelphia, New York, Miami, Edina, MN, Los Angeles, San Diego, Detroit, Ashville NC and Indianapolis, just to name a few.\u00a0 Their method of operation is consistent:\u00a0 they enter the backyard of a home either through open space or a golf course, they smash through a glass door or window (thus not breaking the seal on a home alarm sensor), they upend everything in the primary bedroom and bath, and take jewelry, cash, expensive handbags, and other small items.\u00a0 The average time from beginning to end of their caper is 5-8 minutes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SATG-Phoenix-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The 3 Phoenix Burglars<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n So… why have they been so successful in eluding capture?\u00a0 First, there are a LOT of them.\u00a0 Last week three police officers held a meeting for our homeowner’s group to discuss the overall problem and they said they are seeing an increase in the number of burglary cells<\/strong> because of the ease with which they can obtain visas or enter through the southern border. The detective said that the Chilean crime syndicate has established training camps<\/strong> where the burglars learn how to surveil properties, break through doors and windows, and evade security cameras.\u00a0 The trainees who are the fastest are the ones sent to the U.S.\u00a0 When they arrive here they generally rent a high-end car so as not to look out of place when they’re scouting high-end neighborhoods, and they rent homes through Airbnb or VRBO, so they aren’t observed in hotel lobbies or parking lots. \u00a0As unnerving as this all is, you would think just setting an alarm and operating security cameras would provide adequate protection.\u00a0 You would be wrong. A woman across the road from me had jewelry and cash stolen.\u00a0 She said that her Ring alarm\/camera system was on, but it didn’t capture the burglars who entered her home.\u00a0 And there’s a good reason for that.\u00a0 The latest tool in their bag of tricks is a Wi-Fi and cellular frequency jammer<\/strong>, that disables security systems and cell phone transmissions.\u00a0 Last weekend the technology expert, Kim Komando, was exposed to this group when they tried to rob several houses on her street in Phoenix.\u00a0 Because she recently designed and built her house (and she is a technology expert) her home has a hard-wired security system.\u00a0 Fortunately for her the burglars moved on from her house but she was able to capture the 22 SWAT team members who swarmed her back yard looking for evidence.\u00a0 They found several jammers strewn around the area.\u00a0 Neighbors reported losing their Wi-Fi\/phone connectivity<\/strong>, but assumed it was a simple internet outage.\u00a0 The truth was obviously far scarier.\u00a0 In that incident the police were able to capture three of the burglars as they tried to escape. According to court records, all three suspects were of Chilean descent, overstayed their visas, and were carrying bogus ID cards from Spain, with fake names and birth dates.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A New Friend for Dash?<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Over the past three weeks we have had two attempted burglaries in my community<\/strong>.\u00a0 In the first one the owner came home from walking her dog and surprised the burglars.\u00a0 The second incident last week involved them shattering a bedroom slider, but they were scared off when they realized the owners were home in another part of the house.\u00a0 I don’t want to get into a discussion about continuing the visa program or our southern border.\u00a0 But piggybacking on Bob’s post from last week, it may be time to throw out ALL of our politicians and find some who can find some solutions. For now, all I know is that in twenty-four years of living in this house<\/strong> I have rarely turned on the alarm system.\u00a0 Now, it’s on all the time.\u00a0 I have installed more security and have taken extra precautions for my personal security.\u00a0 I’m thinking of getting Dash the Wonder Dog a friend.\u00a0 One who bites.\u00a0 I never thought I would live like this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson In the shadowy world of organized crime, a peculiar breed of criminals has emerged: South American Theft Groups. They are burglars often referred to as “crime tourists” because they enter the U.S. legally under the Visa … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/attack-dog-300x165.jpg\")
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