Seven people are now in custody following a major crime bust in Scottsdale on Friday.
Police believe all suspects belong to a South American theft group based in Colombia. Officers arrested them around 4:15 p.m. after executing a search warrant at a short-term rental near Camelback and Miller Roads.
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The investigation began when the Burbank Police Department in California alerted Scottsdale officers on May 20 that the group might be in Phoenix. The suspects are linked to similar crimes in California, Oregon, and Washington. Burbank police provided vital details, including vehicle descriptions.
Scottsdale detectives tracked the vehicles and started surveillance. On May 23, they followed the suspects to two homes in Tempe and Mesa, witnessing all seven individuals involved in two separate burglaries. The surveillance continued until around 4 p.m., when officers raided the Scottsdale rental.
The arrested suspects are:
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Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23
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Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26
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Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38
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Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26
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Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28
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Lady Johanna Gueito, 32
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Angie Paola Hernandez-Manrique, 25
Booking photos are not yet available. Each suspect faces a $150,000 cash-only bond.
Detectives are working to return stolen items to burglary victims. Officers also recovered a French Bulldog stolen during a burglary in California, and efforts to reunite the dog with its owner are underway.
“This case highlights the strength of our partnerships with law enforcement locally and nationwide. We share information, monitor crime trends, and coordinate to stay ahead of criminals. Investigations like this require hours of surveillance and detailed techniques to solve and bring suspects to justice,” Scottsdale PD said in a statement.
