Masked thieves in South American crime ring loot American homes in coordinated pattern, police warn

A question of high-end residential burglaries crossed southeastern Wisconsin has prompted a coordinated instrumentality enforcement effect and drawn governmental attraction astatine some the section and nationalist levels.

The Mequon Police Department (MPD) says the burglaries stock striking similarities, suggesting a nonrecreational operation.

The suspects, dressed caput to toed successful black, with faces covered and gloves on, person entered homes done wooded backyards, often targeting cul-de-sacs oregon properties adjacent play courses. 

Stolen items see jewelry, decorator handbags, watches and cash, each accordant with organized theft groups that people affluent neighborhoods nationwide.

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS BECOMES LATEST CELEBRITY TO FALL VICTIM IN CALIFORNIA CRIME SPREE

Police accidental nonrecreational burglars targeting affluent Mequon neighborhoods stock similarities with South American theft groups that antecedently robbed nonrecreational athletes' homes. (Mequon Police Department)

MPD hosted a determination intelligence-sharing gathering connected Nov. 12, bringing unneurotic constabulary agencies from crossed southeastern Wisconsin to stock information and place trends. Investigators are moving with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the authorities transgression laboratory to process grounds and cross-reference incidents crossed jurisdictions.

Officials said the burglaries amusement hallmarks of South American theft groups (SATGs) known to run crossed the U.S., though nary suspects person yet been identified.

Mequon Police Operations Commander John Hoell told Fox News Digital that investigators person observed accordant methods of introduction and targeting crossed aggregate cases.

OHIO POLICE ADDRESS BROWNS QB SHEDEUR SANDERS' HOME INVASION THAT RESULTED IN $200K IN STOLEN ITEMS

The Mequon Police Department leads determination intelligence-sharing efforts to combat a question of high-end residential burglaries linked to organized transgression groups. (Mequon Police Department)

"The mode the residences were entered, the mode the actors were dressed — caput to toed successful black, conscionable the eyes showing, gloves connected and what they targeted inside, jewelry, handbags, currency — it each matches together," Hoell said.

Hoell described the signifier arsenic dissimilar emblematic section burglaries, reinforcing the department’s presumption that the crimes whitethorn impact a well-coordinated radical operating regionally oregon nationally.

He noted that the caller Mequon-area burglaries stock similarities with the 2023 break-in astatine Milwaukee Bucks subordinate Bobby Portis’ location successful River Hills.

ICE SAYS IT TOOK DOWN GROUP LINKED TO VIOLENT HOME INVASIONS IN TEXAS; VIDEO SHOWS VICTIM CHASED, ATTACKED

In that case, astir $1,500 successful items were stolen portion the Bucks were playing, and the burglary was linked to a Chilean theft radical aboriginal charged successful transportation with implicit $2 cardinal successful stolen spot from high-profile athletes including Portis, Kansas City Chiefs choky extremity Travis Kelce, Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes and Cincinnati Bengals backmost Joe Burrow.

Police accidental the suspects often participate done backyards during evening hours Thursday done Sunday, focusing connected homes unoccupied astatine the time.

Authorities judge the burglars whitethorn beryllium utilizing way cameras oregon different monitoring devices to ticker erstwhile residents leave.

‘REAL HOUSEWIVES’ STARS KATHY HILTON, SUTTON STRACKE TARGETED IN SEPARATE HOME BURGLARIES

Members of a Chilean transgression pack are pictured breaking into an upscale Oakland County location successful Michigan. (WJBK)

Audible alarms and surveillance systems person successfully deterred respective attempts, constabulary said.

Regional instrumentality enforcement agencies volition proceed to stock quality and coordinate efforts to forestall further incidents.

The crimes person besides sparked a governmental effect amid Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race.

GOING INSIDE FBI CHICAGO AS AGENTS CONFRONT DRUG CARTELS AND VIOLENT GANGS IN CRIME-RIDDEN CITY

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R–7th District), who precocious announced his run for governor, straight attributed the burglaries to national migration argumentation and a deficiency of enforcement nether the Biden administration.

"This is what Democrats invited into our state nether the past 4 years of Joe Biden, and not 1 Democrat moving for politician volition condemn it oregon request these criminals beryllium removed," Tiffany said successful a connection to Fox News Digital.

"I person spent years connected the House Judiciary Committee warring for stronger borderline security, including ending catch-and-release, stopping parole abuse, and dismantling overseas transgression networks, and I’m grateful we yet person a President taking this situation earnestly and national agencies moving overtime to get criminals disconnected our streets," helium said.

Tiffany added that if elected governor, helium would prohibition sanctuary jurisdictions and summation resources for section instrumentality enforcement.

"I’m assured that section and national instrumentality enforcement volition determination rapidly to unopen down this South American transgression ring," Tiffany said. 

Law enforcement officials person not confirmed immoderate nexus betwixt the burglaries and migration status, but enactment that South American theft groups often impact individuals who participate legally connected short-term visas earlier committing coordinated crimes and leaving the country.

Police accidental the Mequon-area burglaries stay an progressive and evolving investigation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"We’re assured we’ll drawback them," Hoell said. "But it’s going to instrumentality clip and assistance from everyone watching."

Authorities stress that assemblage consciousness and speedy reporting stay the astir effectual tools for preventing further incidents.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].