The owners thought they were hiring cleaners, but, according to the LAPD, they were cleaned.
Following an investigation, LAPD officials announced Thursday that they arrested two women they suspected of posing as a cleaning crew to gain access to homes in the San Fernando Valley, where they allegedly stole thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry and high-end handbags.
Nikol Quiroga, 30, and Sandra Aguillón, 49, both Colombian nationals, have been booked on suspicion of grand theft and are suspected of being part of a “larger transnational organized crime group,” according to an LAPD news release.
The women are accused of creating fake profiles on a cleaning service app, which allowed them access to the homes, police said.
During the investigation, detectives recovered $50,000 in cash, jewelry and high-end handbags belonging to multiple victims in a search of the women’s apartment and vehicles. Police also found Wi-Fi jammers in his possession, which can be used to disable cameras and alarms, cell phones, trail cameras, GPS trackers and stolen license plates, according to the release.
For some time now, officials have been warning about so-called “robbery tourism,” in which gangs of thieves from South America have traveled to the United States to attack homes in wealthy neighborhoods. In May, seven Colombian citizens were arrested on suspicion of burglary at homes in Burbank.
Detectives said they continue to search for additional victims and suspects in the San Fernando Valley case. Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division, Grand Theft Task Force at (213) 486-5920 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.