In a world where security and safety in one’s own home are paramount, the unsettling rise of “burglary tourists” targeting U.S. luxury homes has become a thorny issue. The distressing experience of Carol and Jeff Starr, whose Southern California home was burglarized last spring, losing $8 million worth of jewelry, including heirlooms and their own wedding rings, painful underscores this alarming trend.
What Are Burglary Tourists?
Burglary tourists are a group of international thieves entering the United States under the pretense of tourism, facilitated by visa waivers. This allows them to stay for up to 90 days without securing a traditional tourist visa. They are predominantly from South America, with a notable number hailing from Chile, the only remaining South American country in the Department of Homeland Security’s visa waiver program known as the “Electronic System for Travel Authorization” or ESTA.
How Do They Operate?
These criminals employ sophisticated methods to target luxury homes. They often wear camouflage outfits known as ghillie suits to blend into their surroundings and monitor their targeted residences. Once the homeowners leave, the thieves break in, using tools like Wi-Fi jammers to disrupt security systems and gain access to valuables without alerting alarm companies. Orange County district attorney Todd Spitzer explains that these burglary rings quickly sell the stolen goods and send the proceeds back to their home countries.
The Impact Beyond California
This is not an isolated issue. Authorities from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Nassau County, New York, have reported similar cases involving Chilean nationals. Ventura County, California, alone has attributed 175 residential burglaries to “transnational theft groups” between 2019 and mid-2023. The Scottsdale police chief, Jeff Walther, expressed concern over “hundreds if not thousands” of these individuals committing crimes across the country, emphasizing the national scale of the problem.
Seeking Solutions and Cooperation
The notable case of Rama and Balakrishna Sundar, whose dream home in Dana Point, California was burglarized, adds to the calls for action. Their experience of having their sense of security shattered by such a burglary has led them, and many like them, to question the effectiveness of current measures against these crimes. District Attorney Todd Spitzer has criticized the Chilean government for not providing adequate background information on individuals granted visa waivers, hindering prosecution efforts in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security states that it is working on enhancing operational cooperation with Chile, including expediting biometric information sharing.
For further details on the visa waiver program and its requirements, visit the official ESTA page.
What Can Homeowners Do?
While the issue of burglary tourists is complex and involves international cooperation and policy adjustments, homeowners can take measures to safeguard their properties:
- Enhance Security Measures: Install comprehensive security systems, including window sensors and motion detectors on all floors, and consider the use of Wi-Fi jammers.
- Stay Informed: Keep up to date with local crime trends and adjust security measures accordingly.
- Neighborhood Watch Programs: Engage with community-based programs to monitor and report suspicious activities.
- Secure Valuables: Consider the use of bank safe deposit boxes for irreplaceable or high-value items and ensure home safes are securely anchored and hidden.
Calling for Policy Reviews
The alarming trend of burglary tourists exploiting visa waivers necessitates a thorough review of the ESTA program and international cooperation on crime prevention. Adjustments are crucial to ensure that genuine tourists can continue to enjoy the benefits of the program without compromising the security of U.S. residents. The U.S. State Department’s engagement and the ongoing lawsuit demanding details of a bilateral security agreement with Chile represent steps towards addressing these issues.
In Summary
The phenomenon of burglary tourists poses a significant challenge, affecting homeowners across the United States. While authorities work to combat these sophisticated crime rings through policy adjustments and international cooperation, individuals can also play a role by adopting more stringent home security practices. It’s a stark reminder of the evolving nature of residential burglaries and the need for ongoing vigilance in our globalized world.
This Article In A Nutshell:
The rise of “burglary tourists,” targeting U.S. luxury homes, sparks alarm. Thieves entering the U.S. under tourism pretense exploit visa waivers for crimes. They wear ghillie suits, disable security systems, and swiftly sell stolen goods. Homeowners can upgrade security measures and engage in community watch programs. International cooperation and policy revisions are essential to address this growing threat.
— By VisaVerge.com
