A sophisticated Chilean crime ring is terrorizing one of Michigan’s wealthiest counties once again, looting several homes last week while their occupants were away on spring break vacations, the Oakland County Sheriff warned this week.
Burglars in groups of three to six have targeted cash, safes, jewelry and high-end handbags in the reported break-ins, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a press conference this week.
Among the reported thefts were $800,000 in jewelry and cash pilfered from a single home last week, he added.
“The Chilean gangs have been hitting us very hard,” he said. “They are super well-trained when they get here – highly organized. They look like ninjas – they’re all masked up, gloves. They each have a backpack with their particular set of tools for their job in the burglary.”
The thieves will often use a jammer to disable wireless alarms, Bouchard said – he implored residents to hardwire their alarm systems and make sure they are turned on when they leave home.
The most recent in the slew of break-ins came on Friday night – Bouchard did not specify where in the county the looting took place.
