The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is escalating its crackdown on a surge of home burglaries in the city's swankiest neighborhoods. In a recent alert, the LAPD acknowledged a spike in these break-ins, believed to be orchestrated by organized groups visiting from abroad for the explicit purpose of conducting these heists. "We’re in the process of connecting with other agencies impacted by these organized groups coming to the country specifically to engage in this criminal activity," the department stated.
Stepping up the fight against this wave of crime, the LAPD announced the creation of a task force, in collaboration with multiple agencies, to specifically target these traveling bands of foreign burglars. "I can tell you that we have a significant increase in burglaries from organized groups that are outside this country, that are coming into the country, and they are targeting high end residents," Chief Dominic Choi told the Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday. The newly formed task force aims to thoroughly investigate and apprehend these criminals.
Although property crimes have seen a slight decline in early 2024, the number of burglaries shaking up these affluent communities remains nearly on par with the prior year. Data collected by the I-Team shows 903 residential burglaries reported to the LAPD in the first ten weeks of 2024, a figure not far from the 944 reported in the same period of 2023. This steady rate underscores the enduring challenge these foreign theft rings pose to the region's sense of security.
Labeled as South American Theft Groups, these burglary brigands are no strangers to Southern California. Over the past year, Orange County has witnessed a slew of arrests related to what has been dubbed 'burglary tourism', and Ventura County even employs a dedicated prosecutor to tackle this ongoing issue. The LAPD's task force is the latest effort to combat to curb these international thieves who have turned pilfering the wealthy into a cross-border venture. More information on the operation is expected to be shared by the LAPD as it becomes available.
