Seven South American Theft Ring Members Arrested in Connection to Phoenix Burglaries
Phoenix authorities arrest seven SATG members in burglary crackdown, recovering stolen goods and a prized French Bulldog with California assistance.
Seven individuals identified as members of a so-called "South American Theft Group (SATG)" were arrested on Friday in connection with a pair of burglaries in the Phoenix metropolitan area, according to information released by local authorities on Saturday.
The crimes occurred on May 23, with one burglary reported in Tempe and another in Mesa. Scottsdale Police indicated that the suspects were staying at a short-term rental property in the area, where they were taken into custody by law enforcement following a coordinated investigation.
Authorities stated that the operation began after the Burbank Police Department in California notified Scottsdale Police on May 20. Officials had been tracking a SATG group originally from Colombia, which was allegedly linked to multiple burglaries in California, Oregon, and Washington. Investigators believed the group had relocated to Arizona.
Police agencies in California provided key intelligence, including vehicle descriptions and surveillance photographs, which proved instrumental in identifying and locating the suspects' temporary lodging in Arizona. Scottsdale detectives subsequently placed the group under surveillance from May 20 to May 22. Officers followed the suspects as they traveled to the targeted homes and, according to police, observed all seven individuals “coordinate and participate in burglary activity at both locations” on May 23.
Items stolen by the group reportedly included a French Bulldog taken during a previous burglary in California. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the dog would be returned to its rightful owner.
The individuals arrested were identified by police as:
- Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23
- Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26
- Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38
- Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26
- Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28
- Lady Johanna Gueito, 32
- Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25
Following their arrests, each suspect was booked into Maricopa County Jail and is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Authorities said the group faces numerous criminal charges, though further details on the allegations have not yet been made public.
The case highlights ongoing concerns among law enforcement regarding organized theft rings operating across state lines, often targeting affluent neighborhoods and utilizing temporary housing to evade detection. The investigation is ongoing, and Arizona authorities are working closely with other agencies in the western United States to determine whether additional crimes may be linked to the same suspects or broader network.
