HOUSTON — Texas law enforcement is linking more than 60 burglaries and attempted burglaries across the Houston area to the South American Theft Group (SATG), a transnational criminal organization labeled a “complex criminal threat” by the FBI.
The group is reportedly made up of foreign nationals of South American descent who either entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed visas. Authorities say SATG targets upscale homes, stealing small luxury items such as jewelry, watches, and designer handbags. The thieves often enter through second-story windows using ladders and use burner phones and rental vehicles to avoid detection.
“These groups gravitate towards expensive homes with surroundings like golf courses, parks, or walking trails, which can make it easier for would-be thieves to sneak in,” officials said. They also rely on internet research, surveillance, and commercially available tracking technology to scope out targets.
In late January, SATG members burglarized a home in West University Place, stealing an estimated $500,000 to $650,000 in jewelry and watches. Chilean national Christian Mauricio Rubio Pizarro was arrested in connection to the theft; he had used a fraudulent Argentine document to rent a car, which GPS records linked to the crime scene.
West University Place Police Chief Gary Ratliff reported four break-ins and three attempted break-ins in the area since January 2025, all showing similar patterns tied to SATG. The group’s activities have also been reported in New York, Florida, California, and Ohio, where investigators are conducting their own inquiries.
In December 2024, a Cincinnati Bengals player’s home was burglarized, with at least three of the indicted suspects believed to be members of SATG.