Seven members of the suspected “South American Theft Group” (SATG) were detained on May 23 for two burglaries.
Authorities have accused the group of committing both burglaries on May 23.
One happened in Tempe at a home located near Southern Avenue and Loop 101, while the other was in Mesa at Brown Road and Val Vista Drive.
They are also charged with burglaries in California, Oregon, and Washington.
The backstory: According to Scottsdale Police, they learned from other agencies that the gang was going to Arizona and reserved a short-term rental at Camelback and Miller.
Police set up surveillance on the rental and tracked the trio as they planned and carried out crimes at two properties.
Tempe’s home was burglarized around 12:25 p.m., followed by Mesa’s residence about an hour later.
At 4 p.m. that day, the SWAT team assisted in the execution of a search warrant at the property, where all seven suspects were apprehended and detectives seized evidence of the burglary.
Five of the seven suspects are in their 20s, while two are in their 30s.
- 23-year-old Nicolas Rojas Leon
- 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas
- 38-year-old Andres David Sanchez-Novoa
- 26-year-old Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza
- 28-year-old Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman
- 32-year-old Lady Johanna Gueito
- 25-year-old Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique
The stolen items, which include a French Bulldog said to have been taken during a burglary in California, will be restored to the victims.
