(WWJ) Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard is warning residents — particularly the wealthy — about criminals he says are coming from outside the U.S. to burgle high-end homes.
Sheriff Mike Bouchard said members of an international crime ring are suspected in a series of recent burglaries in upscale neighborhoods in Oakland County, and across the nation.
Speaking at a news conference Friday, Bouchard said two homes in the Bloomfield Township area were targeted in recent days.
He said these transnational gang members come from countries like Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, and are trained to target affluent neighborhoods, seeking jewelry, money and electronics.
"What we're seeing is they're traveling throughout the United States; this is not unique to Oakland County. Sadly we're now very much on their radar," Bouchard told WWJ's Jon Hewett and other reporters.
"They typically we have seen entered the country one of two ways," Bouchard said. "Either illegally, across our incredibly porous southern border, which I'll talk about at the end, or they're using the Visa Waiver Program, the VWP program which is authorized by the (U.S.) State Department."
The sheriff said there have been about a dozen or so such robberies matching the M.O. of these transnational suspects in the Metro Detroit area over the past year.
In each case, Bouchard said high-end homes are target by criminals who get away with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, as well as cash.
The sheriff offered this message to members of Congress:
"Secure the border first and foremost, because America is getting crushed with fentanyl, human trafficking, terrorist activity that is a ticking time bomb, in my opinion, and obviously transnational gangs that are now attacking communities right here in Oakland County," Bouchard said. "Secure the border, fix the immigration system. Do your damn job. Just do your job."
When asked by Hewett what federal partners OCSO investigators have spoken to or are working with on this case, Bouchard did not offer any specifics.
The sheriff's advice to homeowners is to remain alert and utilize home security systems, including those that cover windows and all points of entry.
If you see something suspicious, call your local police.
MORE: Out-of-state burglars are on the prowl in Oakland County neighborhoods, sheriff says