HOUSTON – A transnational criminal organization linked to numerous high-profile burglaries targeting actors and athletes across the United States is now under investigation for similar crimes in the Houston area, according to a search warrant obtained by KPRC 2 News.
The group, known as the South American Theft Group (SATG), has been connected to more than 60 residential burglaries in the Houston region, according to records. The latest development comes with the arrest of a Chilean national allegedly involved in a West University Place home burglary in late January that netted over $500,000 in jewelry and watches.
Sophisticated Operation Uncovered
West University Place Police investigators say the suspects used tactics consistent with SATG operations, including moving a table against the home’s exterior to access a second-floor balcony. The burglars then broke in and stole high-end jewelry and watches valued between $500,000 and $650,000, according to records.
“These groups gravitate towards expensive homes with surroundings like golf courses, parks, or walking trails— features that can make it easier for would-be thieves to sneak in,” according to the “Inside the FBI” podcast on SATG operations. “They use a combination of internet research, surveillance, and commercially available camera and tracking technologies to scope out their targets.”
Suspect Arrested, Investigation Continues
Houston police arrested Christian Mauricio Rubio Pizarro, a Chilean national, in connection with the investigation to the Jan. 30 West University Place burglary.
According to court documents, Rubio Pizarro allegedly used a fraudulent Argentine identification document to rent a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV through Turo which then got used in the burglary scheme.
Police figured out his real name using facial recognition technology, according to the search warrant, and began surveilling him.
Once pulled over for a traffic violation, he allegedly gave police the wrong name and birthdate before investigators found a fake Colombian driver’s license.
He currently faces charges related to tampering with government records and is being held with a $20,000 bond and an immigration detainer.
Police tied GPS records from the vehicle to the area of the burglary and later found it abandoned with modified license plates and electrical tape covering interior lights to conceal nighttime movement, according to .
National Security Concerns
The FBI has identified SATG as a significant criminal threat, noting that members either enter the U.S. illegally or overstay their visas. The groups are also known for:
- Breaking in through back entrances, usually on the second floor
- Using rental cars and fake identification documents
- Employing multiple burner phones for communication
- Targeting high-value homes during specific hours
- Sending stolen goods back to South American countries, particularly Chile and Colombia
Recent Trend Across U.S.
This investigation comes amid a nationwide surge in SATG-related burglaries.
Last year, a federal grand jury indicted three alleged SATG members for the burglary of a Cincinnati NFL player’s home. In 2024, six Chilean nationals were federally charged for home burglaries in multiple states.
The local investigation remains active as authorities continue to analyze cell phone data and other evidence recovered from Rubio Pizarro.
While he’s in custody, no burglary-related charges have been filed yet, and investigators have not identified any additional suspects.