Colombian Crime Ring Arrests in Lodi

Crime

Oct 16

Colombian Crime Ring Arrests in Lodi Report

Major International Theft Operation Disrupted

The Lodi Incident

Four Colombian nationals were arrested early Thursday morning, October 16, 2025, following a dramatic standoff at Lodi Pawn and Jewelry on West Lodi Avenue^[2]^[5]. The arrests came after an alarm at the pawn shop alerted both Lodi police and Sacramento County Sheriff's detectives who had been surveilling the group since September^[2].

The operation unfolded dramatically when Sacramento County SWAT teams deployed immediately to the scene. One female suspect was arrested right away, and two others were apprehended shortly after^[2]^[5]. The final suspect attempted to evade capture by hiding in a ventilation duct, forcing authorities to deploy gas before taking him into custody^[2]^[37].

Background on the Crime Ring

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Amar Gandhi described the operation as "straight out of the movies"^[3]^[10]. The suspects are believed to be part of an international Colombian theft ring with sophisticated operational methods^[2]^[3].

The group had been under surveillance since September 2025 following what detectives called one of the "most sophisticated" jewelry store heists they had seen in Sacramento County. During that burglary, the thieves bored a hole through a wall and stole more than $1 million worth of merchandise^[2]^[34].

Key details about the criminal organization include:

At least two of the four arrested are Colombian nationals^[3]
One owns a jewelry business in Colombia^[3]
They traveled in an RV as their mobile base of operations^[3]
Each member had specific roles: one as an alarm disabler, another woman served as their business manager^[3]
The group worked in coordination to target jewelry stores across California^[3]

South American Theft Groups (SATGs) and Their Nationwide Operations

South American Theft Groups represent a significant organized crime threat operating across the United States. The FBI characterizes these groups as foreign nationals of South American descent who enter the U.S. illegally or overstay tourist visas to commit crimes^[13]^[54].

Operational Methods:

Target expensive homes near golf courses, parks, or walking trails for easier access^[13]
Enter through back windows or second-floor glass doors^[13]
Focus on stealing jewelry and designer accessories, often leaving other expensive items behind^[13]
Use rental vehicles and fake IDs^[13]
Employ multiple burner phones and encrypted messaging apps^[13]
Utilize signal jammers to disable home alarms and surveillance systems^[20]^[22]
Complete burglaries in under three minutes^[22]

Notable Recent Crimes Linked to SATGs:

December 2024: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home burglarized, with Chilean criminals stealing $300,000 in luxury items^[13]^[17]
October 2024: Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce targeted^[17]^[26]
September 2025: San Ramon jewelry store heist involving nearly 25 masked suspects who stole $1 million in merchandise^[32]^[35]
May 2025: Seven Colombian nationals arrested in Arizona linked to burglaries in California, Oregon, and Washington^[20]
Multiple states affected including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, West Virginia, and the Carolinas^[21]

Financial Impact:

Groups have stolen "millions of untraceable" valuables across the country^[21]
Individual heists range from $125,000 to $2.6 million^[17]
The nationwide cargo and retail theft problem exceeds $10 billion annually^[50]

Law Enforcement Agencies Involved

Multiple federal, state, and local agencies have collaborated to combat these organized crime groups:

Federal Agencies:

FBI - Leading through the Transnational Organized Crime Task Force^[14]^[28]
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)^[19]
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Conducting enforcement operations^[49]^[62]
DEA - Supporting investigations^[13]

State Agencies:

California Highway Patrol (CHP) - Operating Organized Retail Crime Task Forces in three regions: Golden Gate Division (Bay Area), Southern Division (Los Angeles), and Border Division (Orange and San Diego counties)^[48]^[53]
California Department of Justice^[48]

Local Agencies:

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office - Led the Lodi investigation with their SWAT team^[2]^[34]
Lodi Police Department^[2]^[5]
Various police departments across affected states including Burbank, San Ramon, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and others^[20]^[25]^[27]

Current Enforcement Efforts

Law enforcement has intensified efforts to combat South American Theft Groups through:

FBI Initiative: Dedicated resources for active investigations nationwide with intelligence sharing among international partners^[54]
California's Response: Governor Newsom expanded CHP anti-crime units and deployed additional crime suppression teams to major cities^[63]
Task Force Operations: The CHP's Organized Retail Crime Task Forces have recovered $51.3 million in stolen property since inception, with $13 million recovered in 2024 alone^[60]
Federal Prosecutions: Multiple indictments filed against SATG members, with sentences ranging from 24 months to several years in federal prison^[14]^[59]

The Lodi arrests represent a significant breakthrough in disrupting what authorities describe as a highly sophisticated international criminal network that has plagued communities across the United States with increasingly brazen theft operations^[2]^[3]^[10].