Orange County, California (CNN) — Carol and Jeff Starr’s joyous occasion of celebrating their daughter’s wedding was overshadowed by a distressing reality: thieves had raided their Southern California home, stripping it of a safe filled with precious jewelry.
The Starrs, who had stored heirloom jewelry in the safe, including treasures passed down from Carol’s late mother, were left devastated by the loss, estimating the value of stolen goods at a staggering $8 million.
Prosecutors in Orange County, California, allege that this burglary is part of a larger phenomenon involving so-called “burglary tourists” exploiting visa waiver programs to enter the United States. These individuals, predominantly from South America, join sophisticated burglary rings that target affluent residences.
According to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, the thieves employ tactics such as concealing themselves in camouflage attire and exploiting vulnerabilities in home security systems to execute their crimes seamlessly. The stolen items are swiftly sold, with proceeds often transferred back to the suspects’ home countries.
Chile is singled out as a significant source of these burglary tourists, benefiting from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver program. Despite concerns raised by law enforcement, Chile remains the only South American country eligible for this visa waiver, compounding the challenge for authorities.
Instances of luxury home burglaries linked to Chilean nationals have been reported nationwide, with cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, and Baltimore, Maryland, among those affected. The scale of the issue is evident, with Ventura County, California, attributing 175 residential burglaries to “transnational theft groups” between 2019 and mid-2023.
Critics, including Spitzer, have lambasted Chile for failing to provide adequate background information on visa waiver applicants, impeding law enforcement efforts in the US. Spitzer’s lawsuit against the US State Department seeks transparency regarding bilateral security agreements with Chile to address this loophole.
While the Department of Homeland Security acknowledges concerns surrounding criminal activity by certain travelers, it asserts ongoing cooperation with Chile to enhance information sharing and bolster security measures.
The Sundar family, whose dream home in Dana Point, California, was violated by alleged burglary tourists, echoes frustrations over the perceived lack of urgency in addressing this issue at the federal level. Balakrishna Sundar’s call for politicians to empathize with victims underscores the pressing need for decisive action to safeguard communities against such crimes.
As law enforcement and policymakers grapple with the complexities of transnational crime, the plight of victims like the Starrs and Sundars underscores the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities in visa waiver programs and enhancing international cooperation to combat organized burglary rings.
