A group of Chilean “burglary tourists” that came to the UK for the purpose of stealing luxury goods valued at £80,000 from homes in wealthy areas has been sentenced to prison.

The gang targeted at least 11 homes in Surrey and London between November 3rd and December 11th last year, making off with watches, clothing, jewelry, and even Christmas gifts that were still wrapped.

Their method of accessing these upscale properties involved scaling to the first or second floors and gaining entrance by breaking windows or doors, according to Surrey Police.

In one instance caught on video, the four burglars – Israel Contreras, Eduardo Marquez, Yeico Guzman Fernandez, and Michael Carrasco – were seen escaping a house by leaping out a window and climbing over a backyard fence.

Fernandez had specifically traveled from Chile to the UK with the “sole purpose of stealing” and immediately joined the group in their crime spree upon his arrival, stated Surrey Police Investigating Officer, Sergeant Ben Deacon.

However, a series of mistakes eventually led to their capture by authorities, and the four men were subsequently sentenced to a collective 17 years in prison for their crimes.

On November 3, Contreras accidentally dropped his phone while climbing over the fence of a home in Hillingdon. 

When officers seized the device, they discovered five screenshots from a mapping app, with pins dropped on several residential properties across London.

Pieces of Contreras’ DNA on a broken angle grinder blade were also left behind at the scene of a burglary in Esher, allowing police to establish a connection between the offences in London and Surrey. 

While he had hoped to board a flight to Chile on December 5, Contreras’ plan was foiled after officers arrested him at London’s Heathrow Airport. He was later charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. 

The remaining members of the gang were captured just days later. On December 11, officers halted the thieves while they travelled in a red Hyundai on Fulham Palace Road, London.

Despite attempting to reverse and ram their way to freedom, the car was strategically stopped by police who discovered that the vehicle contained items of jewellery, designer goods and tools. 

Marquez, the driver of the getaway car, had filled his pockets with jewellery and watches from burglaries committed earlier that day.

A large crowbar had been tucked into his waistband, with a torch and screwdriver also concealed in his pockets.

Fernandez and Carrasco were also found in the vehicle. Fernandez, who had arrived into the UK from Chile at 7am that morning, had immediately met up with the group in order to embark on their next robbery.

Over the summer, the four thieves were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, with Contreras, 22, receiving a five year and three month sentence and Marquez, 29, sentenced to six years and nine months.

Both Carrasco, 28, and Fernandez, 25, will spend two years and nine months behind bars respectively. 

Sergeant Deacon said that the arrests brought him ‘great satisfaction’, adding: ‘We have been able to deliver some justice to the victims of these crimes’. 

He added that Contreras ‘thought he got away with his crimes’ and that ‘Marquez and Carrasco did not see us coming and won’t be free for a long time’. 

Sergeant Deacon also thanked both the victims and witnesses for their ‘patience and support’ with the investigation and urged any members of the public who become victims of these awful crimes to both record and report it.

He said: ‘Many of the burglaries solved as part of this investigation had looked like they would go unsolved, but the dedication of my colleagues and perseverance of the victims enabled us to get this result.

‘Equally, this investigation involved many officers and staff from multiple teams, disciplines and forces – thank you all for your hard, diligent work.’

The gang, who have been on remand in prison since their arrests, are set to face deportation once their prison sentences have been served.