South American theft ring hits 60+ Houston homes using signal jammers

Greater than 60 luxurious houses within the Houston space have been hit by a large-scale housebreaking linked to a South American theft ring that used sign jammers and counter-surveillance techniques to evade detection, West College Place Police Chief Gary Ratliff confirmed to Fox Information Digital.

The organized crime community referred to as the South American Theft Group (SATG) has been linked to quite a few burglaries in West College Place, surrounding counties and throughout the nation, authorities mentioned.

Residents held a public security assembly Wednesday night at West College Place, the place Ratliff warned that the group’s footprint is increasing past Houston.

“It was surprising,” mentioned resident Invoice Jones FOX 26 in Houston. “Folks from South America are terrorizing People. That is fairly scary and unlucky. I am actually shocked nobody was damage.”

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A housebreaking in Houston seemed to be linked to a South American theft ring, officers mentioned. (Fox 26 Houston)

Seven of the burglaries occurred on West College Place alone, and police say the instances comply with a constant script.

Investigators say suspects goal second-story home windows in the back of houses between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., climbing ladders or patio furnishings earlier than breaking glass or prying open home windows with screwdrivers. The burglars allegedly moved safety cameras, deployed sign jammers to disrupt alarm and Wi-Fi methods and took stolen property in pillowcases and backpacks.

The suspects primarily steal valuables, together with designer wallets and jewellery. In a single case, the residents had been at dwelling when the burglars entered, with out encountering the suspects.

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Ignacio Castillo Contreras was arrested in February 2025 for allegedly forcibly coming into a house, and West College police mentioned he was in possession of knickknack and a radio frequency jammer. (West College Place Police)

In response to Ratliff’s presentation, 4 burglaries and three tried burglaries have been reported since January 2025, and all seven seem in step with the group’s strategies.

Authorities mentioned the group can also be below investigation in California, Florida, Wisconsin and New York, suggesting the Houston instances could possibly be a part of a broader nationwide operation.

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Ignacio Castillo Contreras was arrested in February 2025 for allegedly forcibly coming into a house, and West College police mentioned he was in possession of knickknack and a radio frequency jammer. (West College Place Police)

“Most of those individuals are fairly clever,” Ratliff mentioned. “They use burner telephones, they use different data that makes it very troublesome to trace.”

Final 12 months, officers arrested Chilean Ignacio Castillo Contreras in reference to one of many burglaries during which jewellery was stolen. Police have additionally recognized Christian Mauricio Rubio Pizarro as an individual of curiosity, though no fees have been filed in opposition to him. He’s at present going through unrelated fees in Houston and stays in an immigration maintain.

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Investigators say the case stays energetic as authorities work to stop new burglaries locally.