A TASK FORCE TO COMBAT THE
INTERNATIONAL CRIME RINK.
>>> TONIGHT, THE LAPD LAUNCHING
OF INITIAL TASK FORCE AFTER A
CONCERNING RISE IN BURGLARY
TOURS.
>> WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE.
ORGANIZE GROUPS THAT ARE
OUTSIDE THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY
ARE TARGETING HIGH-END RESIDENT.
>> Reporter: POLICE SAY THEY
ARE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL
CRIME RINK TRAVELING FROM
COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA.
THE MAJORITY FROM CHILE WITH
THE MISSION TO BREAK-IN AND ROB
HOLMES IN THE U.S. VIDEOS LIKE
THIS, CAPTURING THE MOMENT THEY
BREAK THE WINDOW AND INTERHOME
IN CALIFORNIA.
AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR STORY FOR
RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
>> YEAH.
IT RATTLES US AS A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE’VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND
YEARS.
>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN
MORE THAN 900 RESIDENTIAL
BURGLARIES SINCE JANUARY.
POLICE SAY IN THE PAST 35 DAYS,
THERE HAVE BEEN 34 HOME
BURGLARIES SIMILAR IN NATURE TO
BURGLARIES TIED TO THE SOUTH
AMERICAN CRIME RING.
THEY USE SOPHISTICATED
TECHNOLOGY LIKE WI-FI JAMMERS,
DRONES, AND EVEN -- TO DISABLE
SECURITY CAMERAS.
>> SOME SORT OF DEVICE THAT
ACTUALLY STOPS WI-FI FROM
OPERATING.
>> Reporter: RANSACKING FOR
CASH, JURY, ELECTRONICS, AND
HIGH-END HANDBAGS.
HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO GET INTO
THE U.S.?
POLICE SAY THEY ARRIVE HERE
LEGALLY ON NINE-DAY TOURIST
VISAS BEFORE HITTING SOME OF
THE WEALTHIEST NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
INVESTIGATING THIS CREW,
SUSPECTING MORE THAN 21
BURGLARIES.
>> THEY ARE GETTING SMARTER.
HOW THEY ARE ACTING, WHAT THEY
ARE DOING.
>> MAKING THEM EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN.
>> Reporter: A POSSIBLE WIN FOR
AUTHORITIES WHO ARRESTED A 17-
YEAR-OLD CHILEAN NATIONALS AND
TWO ADULTS, ALL SUSPECTED
MEMBERS OF THIS AND ACCUSED OF
ROBBING MULTIPLE HOMES IN LOS
ANGELES.
>> DANA GRIFFIN JOINS US NOW.
WHAT ADVICE OUR POLICE GIVING
RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO TRY AND
PREVENT HAVING THIS SORT OF
THING HAPPEN TO THEM?
>> Reporter: OFFICIALS ARE
REMINDING THEM TO MAINTAIN
THEIR SECURITY SYSTEMS.
LET YOUR NEIGHBORS KNOW IF YOU
ARE TRAVELING.
YOU CAN ALSO PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON
A TIMER SO IT APPEARS YOU ARE
HOME, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT.
THEY ARE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT
PEOPLE IN OUR HOME SO THEY CAN
STRIKE.