Criminal tourism: Inside the Chilean burglary network targeting sports stars

A Chilean burglary network targeting elite athletes has come to the forefront following a series of high-profile arrests. Two Chilean nationals, Bastián Jiménez Freraut and Ignacio Zúñiga Cartes, were recently apprehended along with their accomplices, Eduardo Gallardo Espinoza and Esteban Escobar Cartes. The investigation also led to the arrest of an Argentine citizen, Walter D’Amelio.

This criminal phenomenon, dubbed "criminal tourism," has been a concern for US law enforcement for years and has now spread to Canada and Europe.

Detective Jesús Bonilla, who has spent years tracking the network, attributes the phenomenon's growth to Chile's inclusion in the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system, which allows visa-free travel for 90 days. The network is not part of a single criminal organization but rather a loose cooperative of offenders who share methods, contacts, and logistics. Small crews form, dissolve, and regroup as needed.

The burglars meticulously plan their crimes, often targeting athletes or celebrities. They gather information from social media and compete schedules to identify homes, entry points, and security arrangements. Using geolocation tools, they pinpoint specific properties and wait for the right moment to strike when the property is empty.

They obtain vehicles, rent accommodation, and establish contacts with buyers before carrying out the burglary. The crews typically target properties near wooded or poorly-lit areas, entering through back windows or sliding doors while security shifts change.

While some crews succeed in executing burglaries quickly, they often reveal their success on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook by celebrating their haul. Prosecutors believe that the group responsible for the burglary of Argentine tennis star Juan Martín del Potro has stolen goods worth over US$2 million.