Southern California – April 24, 2019
In the past year, law enforcement in Southern California have documented a pattern of Chilean subjects who have perpetrated burglaries at a jewelry store, homes and in cars in Southern California and elsewhere in the United States.
The subjects gained entry to the U.S. with visa waivers. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller has said “It is a growing problem. They’re very sophisticated. It’s a hot zone in Southern California.”
Crime involving these groups has been referred to as “burglary tourism.” On March 23, 2019, a group of Chilean burglars stole more than $1 million in merchandise from a jewelry store in Laguna Niguel, CA. These burglary crews have also perpetrated crimes in Arizona, Colorado, New York and Texas.
