PHOENIX — Several suspects have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in various burglaries around the Valley, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Police said the arrests, made Friday night, are linked to the South American Theft Groups (SATGs).
According to Phoenix police, multiple suspects were spotted by surveillance officers at around 7:30 p.m. in a Camelback Mountain neighborhood near 44th Street and Camelback Road.
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Officers saw the suspects go up to a home and engaged in what appeared to be a break-in attempt of the residence, police said.
The suspects then left the home and got into a waiting minivan, but the vehicle was blocked from leaving by police.
Police said four people got out of the vehicle and ran away. Police set up a perimeter in the area and were able to find and arrest three of the suspects. The fourth suspect was not located.
Police also found "burglary tools" the suspects threw out while they were running from police.
According to police, the driver, Sue Ellen Guiterrez Saez, 20, was booked for various burglary charges and aggravated assault on a police officer.
Johan Salvo Alacon, 21, and 25-year-old Manuel Eduardo Fuentes Gomez, 25, were booked for various burglary-related charges. Salvo Alacon also had a felony warrant, police said.
Police said all three were carrying fraudulent identification. Additionally, they were in the United States on overstayed visas.
More information
12News is working to determine if these arrests are connected with a string of burglaries in the Valley referred to as "Dinnertime Burglars" that have targeted more than 20 residences in the Scottsdale area.
When contacted, Scottsdale police said their detectives believe there are multiple crews throughout the Valley committing burglaries.
"We don’t know at this time if this particular crew is tied to Scottsdale yet," a police spokesperson said.
As 12News reported earlier this month, since October 2023, the Scottsdale Police Department has responded to at least 23 burglaries that occurred in the early evening hours, typically when the homeowners weren't present.
Police also noticed another pattern with these burglaries. The suspects are targeting homes either backed up to a golf course or a wash and are simply hopping into backyards to get inside of homes.
The criminals normally steal small but high-value items like jewelry and cash, police said.
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