Four Colombians were arrested on Monday night in a Los Angeles suburb using surveillance devices that authorities say were used as part of a “robber tourism” operation, some of whom had committed similar crimes in the weeks prior. One suspect who had been arrested was also included.
According to the Glendale Police Department, around 10:30 p.m., Glendale police spotted a suspicious vehicle driving without its headlights on in a cul-de-sac in the Emerald Isle neighborhood.
Officers stopped and searched the vehicle and found video surveillance equipment with a battery pack charging system camouflaged with leaves, police said.
Further investigation revealed freshly disturbed soil in a planter on a suburban cul-de-sac, authorities said, and detectives said four men in the car monitored when the homeowner left the residence. He believed that the cameras were strategically placed in the planters in order to do so.
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Brian Martinez-Vargas, 28, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft after previously being arrested several weeks earlier on a theft charge. (Glendale Police Department)
Officers also found items in the car that thieves could use as ploys to gain access to the home without arousing suspicion, including a construction helmet and vest, as well as several jewelry boxes.
Police found surveillance video equipment disguised with leaves inside the suspect’s vehicle. (Glendale Police Department)
Police identified the four Colombians as Brian Martínez Vargas, 28, Jose Antonio Velazquez, 28, Edison Earley Pinzón Fandino, 27, and Luis Carlos Moreno, 28. 29 years old).
All four were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Police said Jose Antonio Velazquez, 28, Edison Early Pinson Fandino, 27, and Luis Carlos Moreno, 29, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. (Glendale Police Department)
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The men are believed to be participating in a cross-border criminal operation known as “robber tourism,” which the department said involves thieves from South America “entering the United States under the guise of tourism. They target robberies in wealthy areas.”
Police said Vargas had been arrested just three weeks earlier after a residential burglary and subsequent high-speed pursuit. Vargas and his alleged accomplice in the crime, William Guanume, 45, allegedly threw stolen items and a WiFi signal hammer, which disabled a home security system, from their vehicle during the police pursuit.
Glendale Police Chief Manny Sid said the arrests highlight the “ongoing challenges” officers face in keeping the community safe.
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“While it is frustrating to arrest the same suspect for a similar crime, it does not weaken our resolve to protect Glendale,” Sid said. “Our police officers are dedicated and will utilize every resource available to combat these crimes and keep our residents safe.”
