(WEAA)— Baltimore County police have arrested and charged five men believed to be part of a South American Theft Group (SATG).
Detectives have identified those men as 20-year-old Gabriel Matamala-Ponce, 21-year-old Thomas Crisosto-Araya, 22-year-old Jorge Gatica-Vergara, 23-year-old Luis Oyanedel-Valenzuela, and 27-year-old Gabriel Miranda-Gonzalez.
Officials say, on February 3, police responded to Tufton Springs Lane in Reisterstown just before 7 p.m. for a reported burglary in progress.
On scene, police located the suspects in a vehicle attempting to flee the area.
Detectives are linking these men to other burglaries in Baltimore County and open cases in North Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma.
The suspects are being held without bond and are charged with first-degree burglary and other burglary-related charges.
The Baltimore County Police Department reminds residents to be aware and follow the below preventive measures:
- Install surveillance cameras on or around your home and business
- Motion sensor lighting on the front and back of a home will help deter break-ins
- Consider having a home or business alarm system installed
- Keep your car locked while at work and secure your registration
- Be cognizant of any cars in the neighborhood that aren’t normally there
- Be aware of anyone who might be following you home
- Give thought to how you secure valuables in your house
- Contact your local precinct’s Community Outreach Team to conduct a residential or business security survey.