A multi‑agency investigation involving Los Angeles County and Ventura County law enforcement led to the arrest of several suspects tied to a coordinated burglary ring operating across multiple counties, including a May 1 residential burglary in Newhall. Officials detailed the case during a press conference held Wednesday by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
According to information shared at the briefing, seven defendants have been charged in three separate burglary cases connected to organized South American theft groups operating throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Investigators said the crews used high‑tech tools such as Wi‑Fi jammers, hidden surveillance devices, and other methods designed to evade home‑security systems.
The Newhall case was highlighted as part of the broader operation. Investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department learned on May 1 that a suspected burglary crew was active in the Santa Clarita Valley. Detectives identified two vehicles believed to have been used in earlier burglaries and later located them leaving a neighborhood in Newhall shortly after a home on the 24000 block of Matthew Place was burglarized.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the southbound Interstate 5, where three suspects fled on foot. Two were detained shortly afterward, while the driver of a second vehicle was taken into custody without incident. A fourth suspect was arrested on May 4 by Ventura County investigators. Detectives recovered U.S. currency, jewelry, a luxury handbag, gloves, and a Wi‑Fi jamming device, all of which were returned to the victims.
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported that the three suspects arrested in connection with the Newhall burglary were identified as Owen Rivera‑Chacon, 24; Christopher Sanchez, 25; and Edisson Boyaca, 27. All were booked on suspicion of first‑degree burglary. Officials noted that the group was associated with South American Theft Group operations, which have increasingly targeted homes near parks, trails, and open‑space areas that provide quick escape routes.
Law enforcement leaders emphasized that these burglary crews often conduct extensive research before selecting targets, sometimes using hidden cameras disguised as landscaping, rental vehicles obtained under false identities, and encrypted communication tools. Officials encouraged residents to report suspicious activity and to avoid posting travel plans or extended absences on social media.
Sources
AOL News
Hometown Station
KTLA
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
NBC Los Angeles
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