Homeowners thought they were hiring cleaners, but Los Angeles police say they were cleaning them instead.
Following an investigation, LAPD officials announced Thursday that they had arrested two women they suspect posed as cleaning crews to gain access to homes in the San Fernando Valley where they allegedly stole thousands in cash, jewelry and luxury bags.
Nikol Quiroga, 30, and Sandra Aguillon, 49, both Colombian nationals, have been arrested on suspicion of theft and are suspected of being part of a “larger transnational organized crime group,” according to an LAPD press release.
The women are accused of creating fake profiles on a cleaning service app that allowed them to gain access to the homes, police said.
During the investigation, detectives found $50,000 in cash, jewelry and luxury handbags belonging to multiple victims during a search of the woman's apartment and vehicles. Police also found Wi-Fi jammers in their possession, which can be used to disable cameras and alarms, cellphones, trail cameras, GPS trackers and stolen license plates, the release said.
Officials have long warned about so-called “burglary tourism,” in which theft gangs from South America have traveled to the United States to target homes in affluent neighborhoods. In May, seven Colombians were arrested on suspicion of burglarizing homes in Burbank.
Detectives said they continue to search for additional victims and suspects in the San Fernando Valley case. Anyone with information can call the LAPD Commercial Crimes Unit, 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.
