Authorities announced on Saturday that seven members of a “South American Theft Group (SATG)” were taken into custody on Friday in connection with two burglaries that occurred in the Phoenix region.
The Scottsdale Police Department reported that the two heists, one in Tempe and the other in Mesa, were carried out on May 23.
According to authorities, all seven suspects were taken into custody on Friday at the short-term rental where they were lodging.
On May 20, the Burbank Police Department in California notified Scottsdale Police about the group. They received a warning about a Colombian SATG crew that was purportedly on its way to Arizona after committing burglaries in California, Oregon, and Washington.
According to authorities, a French Bulldog that was among the stolen items in California will be returned to its owner.
Arizona authorities received information about the group, including car descriptions, from California authorities. According to authorities, Scottsdale detectives eventually located the suspects at the short-term rental house.
Authorities observed the group from May 20 to May 22 and tracked them down to the homes that were broken into on May 23, according to police.
“They observed all seven suspects coordinate and participate in burglary activity at both locations,” according to a police report.
Nicolas Rojas Leon, age 23, Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, age 26, Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, age 38, Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, age 26, Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, age 28, Lady Johanna Gueito, age 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, age 25, were the names of the accused.
The Maricopa County Jail was ordered to hold each suspect pending “numerous criminal charges” on $150,000 cash-only bonds.
