IRVINE, CA – In a quiet suburban town of Irvine, California, three Chilean men were apprehended by the local police on Friday. Their arrest comes in the wake of the Los Angeles Police Department’s recent creation of a task force aimed at tackling an international crime ring that targets high-end residences across the United States.
Irvine, a town known for its low crime rate, has recently experienced a surge in home burglaries. Located approximately 40 miles south of Los Angeles in Orange County, Irvine’s tranquility was disrupted when local police officers, during their surveillance duties, spotted a suspicious vehicle near Boomer Canyon.
The trio arrested were identified as Chilean nationals who seemingly had no business in Irvine. Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, police officers were led on a brief chase before successfully halting the car to conduct a search. Officers discovered burglary tools, pet deterrents, shoe covers, and masks inside the vehicle.
The circumstances led the police to believe that the men were scouting the area with the intention of committing residential burglaries. Consequently, they were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, giving false information to a police officer, and possession of burglary tools, according to a statement from the Irvine Police Department.
The men were identified as Julio Cordova-Martinez, 55, Ricardo Navarete-Loyola, 19, and Leopoldo Jara-Araya, 57. All three are Chilean nationals and were taken into custody at the Orange County Jail.
This arrest comes at a time when there is a noticeable increase in transnational crime groups exploiting a State Department travel program to infiltrate affluent U.S. neighborhoods and loot homes. These groups are primarily composed of individuals from Chile, though nationals from other South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, have also been identified.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has been vocal about this issue, describing the burglaries as “meticulously planned.” He has taken legal action against the Biden administration for not responding to public records requests related to the matter.
In the past month, Irvine has reported over 30 home burglaries, with only about seven believed to be linked to these transnational criminal gangs. This issue is not confined to California, as similar incidents have been reported in Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.
The U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows tourists and business travelers from Chile to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa or an extensive vetting process, is believed to be facilitating these crimes.