Organized crime groups from South America have been exploiting the Visa Waiver Program to burglarize San Diego's wealthiest neighborhoods.
According to several reports, members of these gangs have been conducting "burglary tourism," a tactic that exploits the "weak vetting system" of the Visa Waiver Program, which allows residents of certain countries to enter the U.S. after completing an online form called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
However, instead of engaging in legitimate tourism, these individuals exploit the program for criminal activities, earning the program the moniker of "burglary tourist visa." (Related: Latin American gangs use security jammers to break into U.S. homes.)
In San Diego, authorities have arrested eight suspects, all Chilean nationals, believed to be part of a burglary tourist gang responsible for multiple crimes, including a recent burglary on March 29.
"The home is carefully selected. They’ve been watching from rented cars that blend into wealthy neighborhoods. They are masked, gloved and care little about cameras. They are in and out of your home in just minutes," said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. "When a burglary happens it’s your home, you never feel the same. This is organized. This is not some kid."
These burglaries carefully choose their targets, focusing on high-value items that can be quickly liquidated, such as jewelry, coin collections, cash and high-end purses.
Copycat burglar crews popping up in San Diego County
The effectiveness of their tactics has spawned copycat gangs.
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On Feb. 25, a group of burglars in the Mira Mesa neighborhood in northern San Diego pilfered a gun safe containing assault-style rifles and cherished family heirloom jewelry. Authorities suspect this particular crew to be behind nearly two dozen burglaries, although they are distinct from the Chilean tourist gang.
"They think it's been successful in that the identity has not been discovered. It’s all over the media. They are difficult to detect and difficult to find," Stephan said.
The perpetrators behind these crimes remain at large. While burglary itself is not a novel offense, the emergence of crime tourism poses a new challenge for law enforcement agencies.
Although the United States can extradite wanted criminals from Chile under the ESTA program, the district attorney explains that the process is intricate and typically prioritized for more severe offenses such as kidnapping and murder.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, it is quite different. Criminals have been targeting jewelers on freeways, employing tactics reminiscent of action movie scenes. Recent incidents include masked assailants ambushing vehicles, slashing tires, shattering windows, and brandishing weapons.
Concerns have also arisen outside of California. In Detroit, Michigan, officials are bracing for a fresh wave of burglaries perpetrated by Chilean tourists. The burglaries, which began in 2023, have primarily targeted Asian American families. The gangs employ military-like tactics, wearing camouflage clothing and using electronic devices to disable home alarms and crack safes.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Oakland County called for Chile to be removed from the visa waiver program in light of the crimes. He highlighted that other burglary gangs from countries like Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia also pose a significant threat.
Read more stories about migrants committing crimes in the U.S. and other countries at Migrants.news.
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