Medina police are warning residents about a series of high-end burglaries they believe to be the work of a sophisticated South American crime ring.
The burglars are targeting affluent homes, stealing expensive jewelry and other smaller valuables while leaving behind lower-value items.
Criminals in and out within minutes
“They fly into a certain part of the country, rent a car, and then drive around the Midwest committing high-end burglaries,” Medina Police Chief Jason Nelson told Alpha News. “They’re in and out of master bedrooms in under 10 minutes, taking only high-value items and leaving costume jewelry behind.”
Timberwolves guard Mike Conley was among three Medina homeowners targeted in a string of burglaries over the weekend of Sept. 14-16. According to Chief Nelson, a rental car connected to the burglaries was traced from Florida to Minnesota and back using the Flock license plate recognition system. Despite tracking the vehicle’s movements, authorities have yet to make any arrests.
Repeat tactics and high-profile targets
Last year, authorities discovered that a rental car was parked nearby when the Minneapolis home of Twins owner Jim Pohlad was burglarized.
Nelson said that in Medina alone, there have been eight to 10 incidents in the past year, with millions of dollars in jewelry stolen. He noted that similar crimes have also occurred in other Twin Cities suburbs, including Eden Prairie, Woodbury, and Lake Elmo.
“These criminals know what they’re doing,” Nelson said. “They’re targeting homes when no one is there, and they’ve never been confrontational. We’re talking millions of dollars in stolen jewelry, and none of it is turning up locally.”
Stolen jewelry likely sold out of state or overseas
Nelson said that none of the stolen jewelry has resurfaced locally, suggesting that it is likely being sold out of state or overseas—even melted down.
The burglars typically enter through rear windows or lower-level patio doors, sometimes using paver rocks or bricks to break in. Nelson explained that they are highly organized, often disabling security systems and using scouting tactics.
“There’s some kind of reconnaissance happening, whether there’s another crew that comes in before or if somebody is using a drone,” said Nelson.
According to a recent KARE 11 report, this suspected crime ring has targeted at least 60 homes across 12 metro cities. The burglars have been using advanced tools, including cellphone and Wi-Fi jammers, GPS trackers, and surveillance cameras.
Medina adjusts alarm policies to speed up response
Although Medina police have not made any arrests, Nelson said his department is working closely with state, local, and federal partners. “We’re just trying to be more vigilant in quieter, more secluded areas of our community.”
In response to the burglaries, the Medina City Council and mayor recently voted to suspend false alarm fees, as many homeowners had their alarm companies notify them first to avoid charges, causing significant delays in police response.
“By the time we get there, the burglars are gone,” Nelson said. “We want those alarms to go directly to dispatch so we can respond faster.”
Police urge vigilance in protecting valuables
Nelson urged residents to keep their home alarms active and in good working order, particularly in secluded neighborhoods.
He also advised securing valuables in less obvious places than dresser drawers and bolting down safes.
“They’re targeting master bedrooms specifically, so consider hiding valuables in less predictable spots,” he added.
‘Burglary tourism’
A phenomenon that authorities have come to refer to as “burglary tourism” has been documented extensively in other states, such as California, where Los Angeles police formed a South American Theft Group task force.
In August, federal prosecutors in California indicted seven individuals who were part of “a crime tourism group of South Americans and other individuals who engaged in burglaries, thefts, and other crimes throughout the United States, then laundered millions of dollars in illicit proceeds.”
“Crime tourism is a major problem impacting not just Southern California, but our entire nation,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said at the time. “These defendants facilitated and directed crime tourists who committed hundreds of robberies across the country—in essence, they acted as quarterbacks for a team of thieves.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
