Arapahoe sheriff blames South American theft ring for home burglaries in south Denver suburbs
Colorado Sun
Masked men in hoodies and gloves who have smashed their way into nine “high-value” homes and stolen cash, jewelry and designer purses in the suburbs south of Denver are likely part of a “South American theft group,” law enforcement officials said Thursday.
The nine homes were burglarized most often on Fridays, shortly after sunset, from February through October, said the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, which is calling them “dinnertime burglaries.”
Arapahoe County, Cherry Hills Village Police Department, Columbine Valley Police Department and the Littleton Police Department are working with law enforcement officers in California and Arizona, which have arrested people from Chile and Venezuela after similar burglaries.
The Colorado authorities did not initially explain further why they suspect the masked intruders are South American, but a sheriff’s spokeswoman said they would explain during a news conference Thursday afternoon. In burglaries linked to South American crime groups in other states, the suspects have used signal jammers to disrupt home alarm systems, but “it is unknown if the suspects in Colorado are doing this,” the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said they have no descriptions or photographs of vehicles and that they believe the burglars have been dropped off down the street from the homes.
The law enforcement warning comes as crimes committed by South Americans have come under intense scrutiny. Gang activity linked to Venezuelans in Aurora has been in the national spotlight, mainly because of former President Donald Trump, who said the city had been “conquered” by gangs during a campaign stop in Aurora this month. The claim has been disputed by Aurora officials, including the mayor and the police chief.
The burglaries have occurred in homes that back to open space, green belts, canals, trails, golf courses or have heavy tree cover along their property line, the department said. Two to four people wearing masks and sometimes carrying a backpack have been involved in the burglaries, surveillance video shows.
“They will smash an exterior glass door, then rummage through closets, dressers and bathrooms,” according to a news release.
The burglaries happened at four homes in Cherry Hills Village, two in unincorporated Arapahoe County, two in Littleton and one in Columbine Valley. A homeowner interrupted one of the burglaries in Cherry Hills Village.
The value of the stolen items is about $1 million, officers said.
In Southern California, federal authorities charged 10 people in a string of bank heists. The mainly Chilean nationals, using signal jammers and blowtorches, are accused of getting away with $2.5 million.
In Scottsdale, Arizona, authorities warned of a rise in home burglaries that they linked to South American theft groups described as “crime tourists” because they come to the U.S. to commit crimes. Police there said in February that they began noticing the problem in October 2023.
And in August, authorities said four Colombians were responsible for nine “high-end” home burglaries in six Florida counties. The stolen items, totaling about $1.7 million, included jewelry, watches, designer purses and bags and cash, authorities said.