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More than 60 luxury homes in the Houston area were hit in a burglary tied to a South American burglary using signal jammers and evasive tactics, West University Place Police Chief Gary Ratliff confirmed to Fox News Digital.
An organized crime group, known as the South American Theft Group (SATG), has been linked to multiple burglaries in the West University Place, neighboring districts across the country, authorities said.
Residents packed a public safety meeting Wednesday night in West University Place, where Ratliff warned that the group’s footprint extends beyond Houston.
“It was shocking,” resident Bill Jones told FOX 26 in Houston. “South Americans are terrorizing Americans. That’s scary and unfortunate. I’m really surprised no one was hurt.”
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A burglary in Houston has been linked to a theft ring in South America, according to officials. (Fox 26 Houston)
The seven robberies occurred in West University Place alone, and police say the crimes follow a consistent playbook.
Investigators said the suspects targeted second-story windows at the back of homes between 7 and 9 p.m., stairs or patio furniture before breaking glass or prying open windows with screwdrivers. These criminals are also suspected of setting up security cameras, installing signal jammers to disrupt alarms and Wi-Fi systems and carrying stolen goods such as pillows and backpacks.
The suspects mainly stole high-value items, including designer handbags and jewelry. In one incident, residents were on their way home when the criminals entered, although they did not meet the suspects.
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Ignacio Castillo Contreras was arrested in February 2025 for allegedly breaking into a home, and West University Police said he was in possession of jewelry and a radio frequency jammer. (West University Place Police)
According to Ratliff’s presentation, four burglaries and three attempted burglaries have been reported since January 2025, and all seven appear to be consistent with the group’s methods.
Authorities said the organization is also under investigation in California, Florida, Wisconsin and New York, suggesting the Houston cases could be part of a broader nationwide operation.
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Ignacio Castillo Contreras was arrested in February 2025 for allegedly breaking into a home, and West University Police said he was in possession of jewelry and a radio frequency jammer. (West University Place Police)
“A lot of these people, they’re very smart,” Ratliff said. “They use hot phones, they use other information that makes it very difficult to trace.”
Last year, police arrested Ignacio Castillo Contreras from Chile in connection with a burglary in which jewelry was stolen. Police also identified Christian Mauricio Rubio Pizarro as a person of interest, although no charges have been filed. He is currently facing unrelated charges in Houston and remains in custody.
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Investigators say the case remains active as authorities work to prevent more burglaries in the community.
