Seven members of a group known as the “South American Theft Group (SATG)” were taken into custody last Friday for their participation in two burglaries in the Phoenix area. The arrests were confirmed by authorities on Saturday.
Both heists – one in Tempe and another in Mesa – were committed on May 23, the Scottsdale Police Department said.Â
All seven suspects were arrested on Friday at a short-term rental where they were staying, police said.Â
The Scottsdale Police Department was made aware of the SATG on May 20 following a tip-off from the Burbank Police Department in California. Burbank police had shared information about a Colombian SATG outfit that was believed to have carried out robberies in California, Oregon, and Washington, with potential intentions to move operations to Arizona.
Scottsdale police were alerted to the group on May 20 by the Burbank Police Department in California. (Scottsdale Police)
“They observed all seven suspects coordinate and participate in burglary activity at both locations,” a police statement said.
The individuals apprehended include Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23; Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26; Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38; Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26; Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28; Lady Johanna Gueito, 32; and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, who is 25 years old.
Each suspect was ordered held in the Maricopa County Jail pending “numerous criminal charges” on $150,000 cash-only bonds.Â
