The Los Angeles Police Department has formed a task force to combat the growing number of Latin American gangs targeting luxury homes in Southern California.
“We are aware of an increase in robberies targeting homes in affluent areas,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a notice last week.
“There has been a significant increase in robberies by organized groups from overseas, who are infiltrating the country to target wealthy residents,” Chief Dominic Choi said.
This year alone, the LAPD recorded more than 900 homes being burglarized in Los Angeles.
The ministry said it is working with other agencies affected by organized groups entering the country to engage in this criminal activity.
Most of the participants in these gangs are from Chile, but police have also identified participants from other South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Many of these organized crime syndicates are believed to have entered the United States using a 2014 visa waiver designed to promote tourism from trusted countries.
This exemption allows designated member countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes without obtaining a visa.
Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told the Los Angeles Times that thieves tend not to carry guns to avoid gun charges.
“They sometimes carry jamming devices that disable home security systems,” he says.
Meanwhile, police in Scottsdale, Arizona, are investigating a series of crimes linked to a South American theft ring.
Last week, police announced three arrests in the so-called “dinner robbery,” FOX 10 reported.
