Visa-Holding Gangs Targeting Mansions in Los Angeles for Burglaries
In recent years, Los Angeles has become a hotbed for a new breed of criminals known as “burglary tourists.” These gangs, primarily hailing from South America, are taking advantage of U.S. temporary visas to fly into the city, rob luxurious mansions, and then swiftly return to their home countries with the stolen goods. The scale of this issue is staggering, with LAPD officials attributing a total of 94 burglaries to residents of Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru in just one part of L.A. in 2023.
What makes this phenomenon even more alarming is that these temporary visas do not require background checks, providing an opportunity for criminals to infiltrate the United States undetected. The FBI has recognized this as an “enormous threat” since 2022 and formed its own task force to combat the issue. However, despite their efforts, the problem has only grown worse over time.
To address the escalating gang activity, the LAPD has now announced the formation of a task force dedicated to apprehending these “international thieves,” known as lanzas internacionales. Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton expressed concern over the rising number of crimes tied to these gangs, even though overall burglary rates have decreased.
The criminals’ modus operandi is both sophisticated and cunning. They exploit a 90-day visa program called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which was originally designed to boost tourism from trusted countries. South Americans can enter the U.S. multiple times for 90-day periods under this program. Many gang members have been arrested for their involvement in these burglaries, but they often target cities with lenient bail laws, allowing them to return home while awaiting trial.
What sets these burglaries apart is the absence of firearms during the robberies. Instead, the criminals possess devices that grant them access to a home’s Wi-Fi, enabling them to disable security systems connected to the internet. Moreover, they carefully select their targets, seeking out homes that can be accessed from open spaces such as hiking trails and canyons. By employing ladders or stacking patio furniture, they gain access to second-floor master bedrooms, which are less likely to have alarm systems.
While the LAPD and FBI are working tirelessly to combat this issue, cooperation from South American countries is crucial. Unfortunately, Chilean President Gabriel Boric has refused to disclose the criminal histories of citizens using the ESTA system, hindering efforts to catch these burglars. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has taken legal action against Mr. Boric, demanding the release of this information and advocating for stricter laws to prevent criminals from entering the country.
To address the growing problem of “burglary tourism,” authorities have designated a dedicated prosecutor to handle cases related to these organized groups. Efforts are also underway to collaborate with other agencies impacted by this criminal activity.
Several high-profile arrests have shed light on the extent of this criminal enterprise. Notably, a 17-year-old Chilean managed to convince police that his parents had left him with a relative, allowing him to evade authorities when turned over to LA County Children and Family Services. Ultimately, he was apprehended in Arizona alongside two alleged gang members, Grecia Romanduski Gaete Castillo and Sebastian Jesus Parraguez Soto. The trio confessed to multiple thefts from affluent homes.
These burglary tourists are not only wreaking havoc in Los Angeles but have also targeted the United Kingdom, according to reports from the UK Daily Mail. The scale of their operations is astonishing, with some gangs amassing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of stolen property.
As the LAPD and FBI intensify their efforts to combat this troubling trend, it is clear that a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Cooperation from South American nations, stricter visa regulations, and enhanced security measures are all vital components in the fight against these visa-holding gangs. Only through international collaboration and robust law enforcement efforts can we hope to put an end to this wave of mansion burglaries that has plagued Los Angeles and beyond.
