Authorities say a South American theft network known as the South American Theft Group (SATG) has burglarized over 60 high-end homes in Houston and nearby counties.
West University Place Police Chief Gary Ratliff spoke at a public safety meeting last week, saying seven of the burglaries occurred in West University Place alone and that the cases follow a consistent playbook.
Police say the suspects frequently target second-story windows, entering homes between 7 and 9 p.m. using ladders or furniture, and steal high-value items such as designer handbags and jewelry. They use signal jammers to disable alarms and Wi-Fi and transport stolen goods in pillowcases or backpacks.
Ratliff said investigators continue to track the group’s movements, emphasizing that the network’s operations are expanding. He warned that the group’s footprint goes beyond Houston and that it is also under investigation in California, Florida, Wisconsin, and New York.
According to the FBI, the crime organization is made up of “foreign nationals of South American descent” who either entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas.
“These groups gravitate towards expensive homes with surroundings like golf courses, parks, or walking trails—features that can make it easier for would-be thieves to sneak in,” according to the “Inside the FBI” podcast on SATG operations.
Last year, Houston police arrested Chilean national Ignacio Castillo Contreras in connection with a burglary that involved stolen jewelry.
Police have also named Christian Mauricio Rubio Pizarro as a person of interest, though he has not been charged in this case. Rubio Pizarro is currently in Houston facing unrelated charges and remains in custody on an immigration hold.
