HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A South American theft ring responsible for a series of high-dollar burglaries across the country has now been linked to a series of home break-ins in West University Place and across the Houston area, according to police.
Police say four break-ins and three attempted break-ins reported since January 2025 appear consistent with the methods of the crime syndicate.
Video from a Dec. 11th break-in at a home on Belmont shows a masked man creeping around a backyard.
The homeowner says the man used her ladder to access her second-floor balcony before smashing through the balcony door while two of her children were home.
The break-ins were the dominant topic at West U’s public safety meeting Wednesday evening.
“I think that is shocking the fact that you have people coming from South America to terrorize Americans,” said West U resident Bill Jones.
The FBI has spent years investigating the theft ring, which was previously linked to break-ins at the homes of several professional athletes throughout the country.
Investigators say the group is responsible for more than 60 break-ins in the Houston area. West U police say they’re being investigated in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties as well as in California, Florida, Wisconsin, and New York.
“Most of these folks, they’re pretty intelligent. They’re using burner phones, they’re using other information that makes it very difficult to follow,” said West U police chief Gary Ratliff.
Last year, West U police arrested Chilean national Ignacio Castillo Contreras for one burglary.
On Feb. 2, Houston police arrested another Chilean national, they say used a fake government ID to rent the car investigators believe was used in the latest burglary.
A common denominator in many of the break-ins is the use of ladders to access second-floor doors and windows.
“In our home, our second-floor windows are armed quite frankly, but maybe everybody doesn’t do that, and apparently that’s what goes on. The thieves target those areas,” said Jones.
Police are urging everyone to outfit their second floors with alarm systems and to make sure all doors and windows are locked.
“Secure sheds and storage areas,” said Ratliff. “Do not leave them unlocked. Keep tools and ladders locked away.”
Police also said they would be expanding their virtual gate network of license plate readers, which are currently positioned around the perimeter of West U city limits.
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