An alleged organized residential burglary ring, believed to be part of a transnational crime syndicate, has been busted by Irvine Police, resulting in five arrests. On Thursday, Irvine police arrested four men and a woman connected to a series of burglaries in Southern California, particularly focusing on affluent communities. The crew is suspected of at least five burglaries, including an Easter Sunday break-in caught on home surveillance cameras, as ABC7 reports.
Details from the Irvine Police Department shared that the suspects, who disguised themselves as delivery drivers, were responsible for a burglary in the Great Park neighborhood. Homeowner Guolin Wang found his property ransacked upon returning from brunch, losing documents, credit cards, and thousands of dollars worth of belongings. Speaking with ABC7, Wang expressed disbelief at the violation, thinking such incidents impossible in what is marketed as one of America's safest cities. Dressing as an Amazon delivery worker and caught on camera, the burglars fled with a backpack and a suitcase before the police could arrive, leaving behind a shaken family and a community on edge.
The break in the case came when an Irvine police officer pulled over a driver claiming to be a food delivery worker, who couldn't corroborate his story. After a search of his car, evidence suggested his involvement in criminal activities. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Jhon Osorioarias, was subsequently arrested, as detailed in a CBS News Los Angeles report. A month-long surveillance operation by the Irvine Police Department linked this individual and his accomplices to the burglary series plaguing the region.
Arrests following the operation included Jesus Hernandezchavez, 42, John Fredy Sanabria, 42, Duber Salarte, 48, all from Fontana, and Isneidy Ortiz Valencia, 29, from Colton. They now face various charges including burglary and possession of narcotics. As the City of Irvine explains, search warrants revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars in suspected stolen goods including items validating the connection to the Great Park burglary. With a statement obtained by the Irvine Police Department, evidence was recovered from two homes and a storage unit, highlighting the expansive nature of the suspected burglars' operations.
The arrest of this crew underscores the adaptability and organization of such groups targeting residential areas. Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent, in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles, warned of the growing threat these burglary crews pose across the state and nation. Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing, and authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward to help further the case and potentially link the suspects to additional crimes.
