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Immigration,
Criminal,
Administrative/Regulatory

Feb. 5, 2026

How California SB 54 fuels South American Theft Group burglaries

Since 2019, South American Theft Groups have driven millions in losses across Los Angeles County, exploiting loopholes in California's Values Act (SB 54) that critics say unintentionally enable repeat offenders to evade deportation and reoffend.

William M. Paparian

Email: bpaparian@aol.com

Southwestern Univ SOL; Los Angeles CA

See more...

How California SB 54 fuels South American Theft Group burglaries
Shutterstock

The South American Theft Group (SATG), a loose affiliation of transnational organized crime rings primarily originating from countries such as Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela, has emerged as a significant threat to public safety in Southern California. These groups specialize in high-value residential and commercial burglaries, often dubbed "burglary tourism" due to their exploitation of ...

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