Two residential burglary suspects from Colombia — allegedly part of an international ring of so-called “burglary tourists” — were taken into custody after a brief pursuit with law enforcement that ended in a crash of their vehicle, Glendale police said Wednesday.
Officers responded to the 4300 block of Boston Avenue around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a residential burglary in progress, according to the Glendale Police Department. Upon arrival, they observed two suspects leaving the area in a gray Toyota, prompting an immediate crime broadcast and a swift response from additional patrol officers and a police helicopter.
The two suspects were eventually located by Special Enforcement Detail officers on the Glendale (2) Freeway but allegedly failed to yield and began eluding law enforcement.
“While fleeing from officers, the suspects began discarding evidence from their car,” police said in a statement.
The suspects drove eastbound on the Ventura (134) Freeway and attempted to exit at Figueroa Street, but could not negotiate the off-ramp turn and the Toyota crashed into a grassy hillside, where officers quickly took the two suspects into custody without further incident.
The suspects were identified as 45-year-old William Guanume and 28-year-old Bryan Martinez Vargas, both residents of Colombia, according to the police department.
“The subsequent investigation found the discarded items were indeed stolen from the targeted residence. Notably, officers recovered a WiFi signal jammer, still on and operating,” police said.
“Signal-blocking devices allow individuals to unlawfully enter homes undetected. This technology disrupts home WiFi systems, cutting the feed of traditional home security systems and cameras, and rendering them ineffective in alerting homeowners or law enforcement to the presence of intruders,” police added.
Guanume and Martinez Vargas were being investigated for their alleged involvement in a transnational criminal operation known as “burglary tourism,” which involves South American thieves entering the United States under an alias or guise of tourism and subsequently targeting affluent neighborhoods to commit residential burglaries.
“The Glendale and L.A. Impart Burglary Taskforces will continue to combat this crime tirelessly,” Glendale Police Chief Manny Cid said in a statement.
“Our officers are prepared and equipped to tackle this burglary surge with all our resources.”
Both suspects were booked on suspicion of burglary, with the driver possibly facing additional charges or felony evading, police said.