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INVESTIGATION
Scottsdale PD arrests 7 in Tempe, Mesa burglaries, suspected of link to international operation
Women, men allegedly tied to Colombian theft group: PD
(Arianna Grainey/Independent Newsmedia)
Posted
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
Seven people believed to be part of a South American Theft Group were arrested by Scottsdale detectives as suspects in two Valley burglaries.
The seven were arrested around 4:15 p.m. May 23 during the service of a search warrant at the short-term rental where they were staying near Camelback and Miller roads, police said, adding items and property related to the crimes they are accused of were recovered during the process.
On May 20, Scottsdale police received information from the Burbank Police Department in California about a SATG group from Colombia that had allegedly committed burglaries in California, Oregon and Washington and could be headed to Arizona. Authorities received vehicle descriptions and they matched those at the Scottsdale rental.
From May 20 to May 22, Scottsdale detectives gained intelligence and conducted surveillance on the group of seven, police said.
On May 23, during surveillance operations, Scottsdale detectives followed the group to homes in Tempe and Mesa. One home in Tempe was burglarized about 12:25 p.m. and the other in Mesa was burglarized at about 1:30 p.m.
Detectives worked with the victims afterward to take reports and notify Tempe and Mesa police departments. Surveillance operations continued and the suspects were observed returning to the short-term rental in Scottsdale, according to a release from the Scottsdale Police Department.
On May 23 at about 4 p.m., detectives and Scottsdale Police SWAT served the search warrant at the rental property, “arresting all seven suspects without complications and recovering evidence related to the burglaries in Tempe and Mesa,” the release stated.
Detectives are working to return the stolen property to the burglary victims. A French Bulldog stolen from a California burglary was recovered and reunification efforts are underway, police said.
The suspects were booked into the Maricopa County Jail and face numerous criminal charges. They have had their initial appearance and each suspect was held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
