Police Probe South American Theft Group's Possible Ties To Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Following a recent uptick in residential burglaries in Greenwich, police said they are looking into the possible involvement of members of a group known to law enforcement as the "South American Theft Group."

The group has targeted vacant high-valued homes in the tri-state area, Lt. Patrick Smyth of the Greenwich Police Department said Tuesday. The department has worked in conjunction with other nearby law enforcement agencies on the burglaries, and authorities in New York recently made several arrests involving members of the group.

Smyth said it's believed that some of the arrestees may have been involved in the burglaries committed in Greenwich, but he noted to Patch that investigations are ongoing and that it's "a long struggle that's going to require warrants to get phone information or GPS information on vehicles... and going through piles and piles of data."

According to Smyth, there have been 11 residential burglaries reported in Greenwich since Sept. 1, and they're predominantly happening in the mid-country area from Lake Avenue to Stanwich Road and the Post Road up to the Merritt Parkway.

The South American Theft Group is "all across the nation," Smyth noted, and the group that's believed to be impacting Greenwich is "a little more sophisticated than just your average 'breaking in the front door.'"

Smyth said burglars are looking for open second-floor patios or windows, unlocked doors, and homes without proper alarms equipped.

"They're potentially surveilling residences to try and find ones that no one is home in, whether they're away on vacation or away for a weekend, or a second residence that's not lived in all the time," Smyth said.

Residents should take precautions when not at home and use an alarm system or have motion lights outside. Timed lights and televisions could be activated, and residents shouldn't let mail, newspapers or other packages pile up outside, since that could be a sign that the house has been empty for some time.

Smyth said that even though it's difficult, residents should not promote on social media that they're away on vacation or gone for an extended period of time.

"This is a more organized group that has connections to a larger entity that's doing research," Smyth said. "They're doing their homework."