The Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO) dismantled an elaborate criminal network originating from South America, responsible for at least six burglaries over a six-month period in the gated Windmill Ranch Estates community in Weston, Florida. The group amassed over $2 million in jewelry, gold, and cash.
Last Friday, authorities revealed the details of the operation, which led to the arrest of two primary suspects and the identification of at least four additional accomplices arrested in other states for unrelated charges.
Ingenious Entry via Waterways
One of the gang's most intriguing methods involved using inflatable boats to navigate the waterways surrounding the community, thereby bypassing vehicle checkpoints at the entrance.
Weston, a planned city in Broward County, is known for its luxurious developments encircled by canals and artificial lakes. Ironically, this geography made it easier for thieves to access the area via water, evading conventional security systems.
BSO spokesperson Carey Codd described the criminal acts as sophisticated and well-organized, stating, "This investigation clearly showed that these individuals went to extraordinary lengths to commit their crimes."
High-Tech Arsenal
The burglars didn't rely solely on brute force. They were equipped with a Wi-Fi signal jammer to disable security alarms, gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, two-way radios for coordination, a 2.5-pound mini sledgehammer, and a 12-inch flathead screwdriver to break into windows and safes.
Sergeant Robert O'Dor from the BSO emphasized the group's sophistication, noting, "This is a highly organized group whose job is to identify high-value homes."
The burglaries always occurred when homeowners were away, with the intruders gaining entry through back doors and windows, directly targeting safes in master bedrooms.
Arrest of Key Suspects
Daniel Osorio-Valencia, 42, a Colombian national, was caught red-handed on December 31, 2025, hiding near a lake within the community after homeowners received an alert from their Ring camera.
During the search, a BSO officer reported to dispatchers, "There is something moving among the bushes with one hundred percent certainty," later clarifying, "It's by the water's edge within all that brush."
Inside Osorio-Valencia's backpack, authorities found the signal jammer, gloves, sledgehammer, screwdriver, the victim's ID wallet, and numerous pieces of jewelry. He faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and possession of burglary tools with intent to use, with bail set at $18,500.
The second suspect, Jose Elias Barrozo-Espinoza, 38, from Chile, was linked to a November 8, 2025, burglary via DNA evidence, where thieves stole a safe containing approximately $500,000 in gold and jewels.
Barrozo-Espinoza left blood on a blind and the master bedroom floor; forensic labs confirmed a match to his genetic profile. He was arrested on March 21 by Zionsville, Indiana police while fleeing through backyard properties, with a police drone assisting in his capture.
He was extradited to Broward County on April 14 and faces charges of burglary causing damage over $1,000 and first-degree grand theft, with bail set at $200,000.
Nationwide Crime Pattern
Authorities noted that the group is part of so-called South American theft rings, transnational criminal organizations that operate in affluent communities across the United States. They quickly move between states and select targets using prior technological surveillance.
Just days before this case, the federal Justice Department charged seven Chilean citizens in Tampa for burglarizing homes of professional athletes from the National Football League and National Basketball Association, in an operation described as similar in nature.
The BSO has formed a multi-agency task force to track suspects and advised residents to maintain an appearance of occupancy in their homes.
"These groups avoid interaction with people. If they see a TV on or signs of someone being home, they often move to the next house," authorities advised.
Both suspects remain in custody, additionally held under immigration detention orders.
Understanding the South Florida Burglary Network
How did the burglars avoid being detected by security systems?
The burglars used a combination of inflatable boats to bypass vehicle checkpoints and a Wi-Fi signal jammer to disable security alarms, allowing them to operate undetected.
What charges are the suspects facing?
Daniel Osorio-Valencia faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and possession of burglary tools with intent to use, while Jose Elias Barrozo-Espinoza faces charges of burglary causing damage over $1,000 and first-degree grand theft.