A surge in upscale home burglaries throughout southeastern Wisconsin has led to a unified effort by law enforcement and has caught the attention of politicians both locally and nationally.
The Mequon Police Department (MPD) has noted that these burglaries exhibit remarkable similarities, suggesting the involvement of a sophisticated group.
Those responsible, clad entirely in black with their faces concealed and hands gloved, have gained access to residences via wooded backyards, frequently targeting cul-de-sacs or homes adjacent to golf courses.
The items stolen—jewelry, luxury handbags, watches, and cash—mirror the loot typically sought by organized theft rings that prey on wealthy neighborhoods across the country.
Authorities believe that the burglars targeting Mequon’s affluent areas bear resemblances to South American theft rings previously known for robbing the homes of professional athletes, according to the Mequon Police Department.
On November 12, MPD held a regional meeting focused on intelligence-sharing, gathering police forces from across southeastern Wisconsin to exchange data and identify patterns. Investigators are collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the state crime lab to analyze evidence and cross-check incidents across various jurisdictions.
Officials said the burglaries show hallmarks of South American theft groups (SATGs) known to operate across the U.S., though no suspects have yet been identified.
Mequon Police Operations Commander John Hoell told Fox News Digital that investigators have observed consistent methods of entry and targeting across multiple cases.
The Mequon Police Department leads regional intelligence-sharing efforts to combat a wave of high-end residential burglaries linked to organized crime groups. (Mequon Police Department)
“The way the residences were entered, the way the actors were dressed — head to toe in black, just the eyes showing, gloves on and what they targeted inside, jewelry, handbags, cash — it all matches together,” Hoell said.
Hoell described the pattern as unlike typical local burglaries, reinforcing the department’s view that the crimes may involve a well-coordinated group operating regionally or nationally.
He noted that the recent Mequon-area burglaries share similarities with the 2023 break-in at Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis’ home in River Hills.
In that case, about $1,500 in items were stolen while the Bucks were playing, and the burglary was linked to a Chilean theft group later charged in connection with over $2 million in stolen property from high-profile athletes including Portis, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Police say the suspects often enter through backyards during evening hours Thursday through Sunday, focusing on homes unoccupied at the time.
Authorities believe the burglars may be using trail cameras or other monitoring devices to watch when residents leave.
Members of a Chilean crime gang are pictured breaking into an upscale Oakland County home in Michigan. (WJBK)
Audible alarms and surveillance systems have successfully deterred several attempts, police said.
Regional law enforcement agencies will continue to share intelligence and coordinate efforts to prevent further incidents.
The crimes have also sparked a political response amid Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R–7th District), who recently announced his campaign for governor, directly attributed the burglaries to federal immigration policy and a lack of enforcement under the Biden administration.
“This is what Democrats invited into our country under the last four years of Joe Biden, and not one Democrat running for governor will condemn it or demand these criminals be removed,” Tiffany said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“I have spent years on the House Judiciary Committee fighting for stronger border security, including ending catch-and-release, stopping parole abuse, and dismantling foreign criminal networks, and I’m grateful we finally have a President taking this crisis seriously and federal agencies working overtime to get criminals off our streets,” he said.
Tiffany added that if elected governor, he would ban sanctuary jurisdictions and increase resources for local law enforcement.
“I’m confident that local and federal law enforcement will move quickly to shut down this South American crime ring,” Tiffany said.
Law enforcement officials have not confirmed any link between the burglaries and immigration status, but note that South American theft groups often involve individuals who enter legally on short-term visas before committing coordinated crimes and leaving the country.
Police say the Mequon-area burglaries remain an active and evolving investigation.
“We’re confident we’ll catch them,” Hoell said. “But it’s going to take time and help from everyone watching.”
Authorities emphasize that community awareness and quick reporting remain the most effective tools for preventing further incidents.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
