Mastermind of Nationwide "Crime Tourism" Ring Arrested

A six-year investigation has led to the arrest of six individuals, including the owners of a car rental business in Santa Clarita, California, who allegedly orchestrated a "crime tourism" network that stole over $35 million in goods and cash from homes and businesses across the United States. The suspects, mostly foreign nationals from Chile, targeted affluent neighborhoods and used rental cars to facilitate their criminal activities.

Unraveling a Sophisticated Theft Ring

The Burglary Crews and Their Modus Operandi

The investigation began in 2018 when burglary crews started targeting homes in upscale neighborhoods in and around Thousand Oaks, California. Ventura County sheriff's investigators discovered that the suspects were foreign nationals, primarily from Chile, who were in the United States on short-term tourist visas. These criminals would break into homes that backed up to open spaces, often through sliding glass doors, and they all rented cars from the same business, Driver Power Rental, located in Pacoima.

The Mastermind Couple and Their Rental Business

The key defendants in the case are Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 57, and his girlfriend, Ana Maria Arriagada, 41, who lived in the Canyon Country area of Santa Clarita. Thola and Arriagada owned the "Driver Power Rental" business, which authorities described as a front for their criminal enterprise. The business catered exclusively to the foreign thieves, providing them with rental cars that they used to blend into affluent neighborhoods and scout potential targets.

The Theft Network in Action

The indictment alleges that Thola and Arriagada acted as the "quarterbacks" of this massive theft ring, directing the foreign nationals to travel across the United States and steal cash, luxury handbags, jewelry, credit cards, and gift cards. The stolen goods were then fenced, and the profits were shared with the thieves. In one case, the thieves broke into a jewelry store in the San Francisco Bay area and stole more than $5 million worth of jewelry and watches.

Exploiting Visa Loopholes and Defrauding the Government

The suspects took advantage of a loophole that allows Chilean citizens to automatically obtain 90-day tourist visas to visit the United States. They often used false identification to rent the luxury cars that helped them blend into affluent neighborhoods. Additionally, Thola, Arriagada, Barajas, and Enderton are accused of defrauding the federal government by obtaining COVID-19 business relief loans through false applications.

The Massive Scale and Geographic Reach

Prosecutors have identified at least 120 thefts connected to the group, but they believe there could be many more. The crimes occurred across several states, including California, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri, and Colorado. The total value of the stolen goods is estimated to be at least $35 million, with Thola allegedly clearing around $5.5 million from the sale of the stolen items.

The Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort

The investigation was a collaborative effort between various law enforcement agencies, including the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and prosecutors from Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. The multi-agency regional task force that oversaw the case was instrumental in unraveling the complex criminal network and ultimately leading to the arrests of the six suspects.