'Burglary tourism' plagues Southern California as unvetted foreigners raid luxe houses
Chile's involvement in the exclusive US Visa Waiver Program blamed for enabling thieves
By Michael Ruiz Fox News
Published March 19, 2024 12:19pm EDT
Authorities are warning of a new burglary trend involving foreign crooks who take advantage of a State Department travel program to case out affluent U.S. neighborhoods and ransack homes for profit.
They use cellphone-jamming equipment to disrupt Wi-Fi networks and expensive security systems. In some cases, investigators caught them hiding in brush wearing ghillie suits, waiting for homeowners to go out, so they could sneak inside.
The crime is made possible because Chile is a part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows tourists and business travelers to enter America for 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa or go through a thorough vetting process.
There are just 41 countries around the world approved for the Visa Waiver Program, including key U.S. allies like the United Kingdom, France and South Korea.
Chile, which the State Department describes as a regional leader for the rule of law and economic stability, is the only Latin American country on the list.
Thieves are now taking advantage of that to fly to wealthy U.S. neighborhoods and pillage private homes, according to authorities.
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https://www.foxnews.com/us/burglary-tourism-plagues-southern-california-unvetted-foreigners-raid-luxe-houses
