At least 20 burglaries in Huntington Beach blamed on South American gang
A South American gang thought to be responsible for at least 20 burglaries in Huntington Beach has been arrested. The arrests were made by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in conjunction with the Huntington Beach Police Department.
According to investigators, the burglaries in the area and that were connected to the gang were committed from late April through mid-June. HSI also discovered that the members of the gang were using fake identification documents and driver licenses from the United States.
Investigators believe the gang was responsible for more than 20 burglaries in Huntington Beach from the beginning of the year until the end of May, as well as other burglaries that were committed in Orange and Los Alamitos Counties.
More than 20 burglaries in the area have been linked to a gang that is believed to have ties to a gang in Colombia. Three of those reported burglaries were committed in Huntington Beach.
According to investigators, all the burglars are believed to be immigrants from South America. Three people who are believed to be members of the gang have been arrested.
The arrests took place at the Huntington Beach Police Department after officers noticed a pattern of burglaries in the neighborhood. HSI then focused its investigation on a series of four burglaries that were committed in the neighborhood from April 1 through May 1 — three of which were reported around 6:30 a.m. on April 4.
Investigators said at least two people were arrested in connection with those burglaries. Both of those people were released without charges following their arrest.
“This is another example of HSI’s relentless dedication to keeping our communities safe from criminals,” said HSI’s Special Agent in Charge, Rick Hehir in a statement. “HSI’s partnership with local law enforcement in Huntington Beach to build on their extensive crime intelligence led to the arrests of two alleged gang members involved in the burglaries.”
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told the Times the DA’s office is assisting in the investigations.
The two people arrested in connection with the burglaries are Felipe Alvarado and Jose Salas Sanchez. Hehir said