Federal authorities in Los Angeles announced on Wednesday the arrests and prosecutions of six individuals and a business believed to be behind “tourist burglary” rings. These rings involve organized groups of thieves who enter the United States on easily obtainable tourist visas, break into homes, steal from businesses, and engage in other financial crimes.
“The impact of crime tourism is being felt very strongly here in Southern California,” stated U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada. “This group not only facilitated crime tourism but in many instances actively directed it.”
An indictment released Wednesday accuses the group of participating in various illegal activities dating back to 2018 and continuing through 2024. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and money laundering conspiracy.
Estrada explained that the group’s leaders and other members ran a rental car business in the San Fernando Valley, “Driver Power Rentals,” which was actually a front for their criminal operations. They reportedly managed teams of thieves from South America, primarily Chile, who were sent to targeted locations to commit thefts.
The two alleged leaders, Juan Carlos Thola and Ana Maria Arriagada, could each face more than 200 years in prison if convicted.
“Thola essentially operated a Hertz rental car business for thieves,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, who mentioned his office had charged over 130 suspected tourist burglars since 2018.
“Today, thanks to our federal partners, we have arrested and charged a mastermind who orchestrated these crimes and facilitated foreign nationals in committing them,” he added.
The indictment reveals that Thola and Arriagada rented luxury cars to thieves for around $500 per week and required the would-be burglars to obtain false identity documents.
Stolen items were shipped to the ringleaders at a FedEx store in Sherman Oaks, where they allegedly retrieved the packages and sold the goods, giving a percentage of the profits back to the thieves, according to the indictment.
The leaders also instructed the thieves to use stolen credit and debit cards quickly to “max out” the cards by purchasing electronics, gift cards, designer purses, and other high-end luxury items before the cards could be frozen or canceled.
These tourist burglary rings are believed to be responsible for a series of recent home burglaries in the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles, according to other law enforcement officials, based on the tactics and evidence.
Earlier this year, the LAPD announced the formation of a South American Theft Group task force to focus on these groups and their methods of reselling stolen goods.
Local law enforcement agencies have long complained that organized criminal groups are abusing the ease with which tourist visas are issued in certain Central and South American countries. They have called for federal lawmakers to impose stricter controls or require criminal background checks before issuing visas.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, whose agency was part of the federal task force that led to these charges, pointed out that applying for an “ESTA” tourist visa costs just $22 and can be done online.
According to LAPD crime data, residential burglaries in LA have been on the rise in recent years, although the number of break-ins remains below the levels seen in the mid-2010s.
