International burglary rings are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to target homes in Los Angeles, including hidden cameras, social media surveillance, and Wi-Fi jamming devices designed to disable doorbell cameras, authorities have warned.
In recent months, a surge in residential break-ins across Los Angeles has left many homeowners on edge. Officials say many of the home burglaries appear tied to organized South American crime rings.
On Wednesday morning, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of seven burglary suspects believed to be connected to several of those recent crimes, bringing some relief to concerned residents.
“These crimes are invasive. They violate people’s sense of safety in their own homes, and they’re often carried out by sophisticated and organized crews, some of which are international,” said Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. “They move quickly, they target multiple neighborhoods, and they cross county lines to avoid detection.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna added: “We’re here today to send a very clear message to every victim that we are paying attention, and not only are we paying attention, but we’re working in a collective effort … to make sure that these individuals that are doing this get caught.”
Last year alone, 8,453 residential burglaries were reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
During the press conference, officials detailed the recent arrests, explained the advanced methods burglary crews are using to evade detection, and outlined steps homeowners can take to better protect their properties.
Notable arrests made
One of the men arrested, 22-year-old Kevin Diaz, has been linked to more than a dozen burglaries or attempted burglaries in the area dating back to January 2025.
Nathan Hochman, district attorney for Los Angeles County, said Diaz had been charged with 18 different felony crimes, including 15 counts of first-degree residential burglary.
“Furthermore, on four of these occasions, the people were actually inside the house. No family should have to experience this … feel effectively that their sanctuary has been invaded, and they now have to barricade themselves in the house,” said Hochman.
Authorities say Diaz is an active member of a South American theft group. He is being held on $1.4 million bail and faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted.
In a separate May arrest involving four suspects, detectives with the burglary-robbery task force spotted a suspicious U-Haul leaving a residential neighborhood and coordinated a traffic stop on a nearby freeway. Investigators recovered cash, jewelry, a luxury handbag, a Wi-Fi jamming device, gloves, and other burglary tools from the vehicle.
“All four of these individuals were Colombian nationals [in] organized South American theft groups,” said Luna. “These are highly coordinated burglary crews [that] are increasingly targeting affluent neighborhoods, and often select homes near golf courses, parks, hiking trails, and open-space areas that provide easier access and escape routes.”
New high-tech tactics burglars are using
Luna says these international theft groups—who often enter the country on 90-day tourist visas—frequently conduct extensive preplanning and use sophisticated tactics, including online research and surveillance of intended victims.
“Everyone wants to put everything on social media,” says Luna. “You put that stuff out there, your friends and family aren’t the only ones paying attention. There are people that will target you for expensive handbags, jewelry, and other items.”
He also says these crews are placing cameras near residences. “It is a wooden box wrapped in artificial turf,” he says. “What’s in it is a phone and a camera with extra batteries.”
He says criminals are also using Wi-Fi jamming devices. “The suspects carry it to jam your camera system and other Wi-Fi devices connected to the cloud,” he says.
Hochman says the criminals are often gaining entry into residences on the second floor.
“Often, they’ll either bring ladders or they’ll use chairs in order to elevate themselves to get into a second floor,” he says. “Many of these South American burglars have figured out that while you might be surveilling your ground-floor windows, they’re going to try to get to the second floor.”
These burglars often disguise themselves as delivery drivers.
“One of the techniques used often by these particular individuals is that they’ll show up with a DoorDash bag,” says Hochman, who says they also pose as Uber Eats drivers or Amazon workers. “They show up at the Ring camera and they’ll say they’re from DoorDash. They’re trying to check to see if there’s anyone home, because very often they’re going to target the house in which no one’s there.”
How homeowners can protect themselves
Luna urged residents to take several precautions to better protect their homes and property from organized burglary crews.
“Install and actively use home security systems and cameras, but preferably hardwired systems that are less vulnerable,” Luna said. “Ensure doors and windows are secured. Secure valuables in anchored safes. Use lighting and automatic timers to make homes appear occupied.”
He also warned residents against oversharing vacation plans on social media.
“Please, whatever you do, don’t tell the world you’re in Paris when you live in L.A., because it’s not just the people you want to know that know you’re away,” Luna said. “It’s these individuals that are very sophisticated and use that against you.”
Luna encouraged homeowners to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious activity, including unfamiliar vehicles, individuals lingering in neighborhoods, or drones flying over residential properties.
He also recommended that residents routinely inspect their yards for concealed cameras and Wi-Fi jamming equipment.
Meanwhile, Hochman advised homeowners to store ladders securely when not in use so that criminals can’t use them to access second-story windows or balconies.
Warning to would-be burglars
Hochman delivered a stern warning to organized burglary crews targeting homes in Los Angeles County and neighboring communities.
“If you want to come here for a lawful objective, if you want a vacation here, if you want to enjoy our beaches, our mountains, our world-class entertainment and sports teams, if you want to spend money in this county or Ventura County, we welcome you with open arms,” Hochman said.
“But if you want to come here and steal from us, if you want to come here and break into our houses, if you want to come in here and scare and traumatize our families, let me assure you where you will spend some time, in our jails and in our prisons, because you will get arrested, prosecuted, and punished.”
Hochman added that authorities are committed to pursuing anyone who comes to the region to commit crimes, regardless of where they come from.
“That is my message to anyone who thinks they can come into this county from anywhere on this planet and think they can rip us off and commit crimes,” he said. “Here, they have another thing coming.”
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