INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (IUSTV News) — With spring and summer vacation seasons quickly approaching, the Indianapolis Federal Bureau of Investigations is warning Hoosiers international organized theft groups targeting Indiana.
In a press release, Indianapolis FBI said that criminals in gangs from South American countries travel to the United States to participate in organized crime, and are believed to be connected to burglaries and thefts in Indiana.
The groups typically target homes and cars in a "affluent neighborhoods," but are also known to rob grocery stores.
The release said that the criminals will monitor when residents in certain neighborhoods are out of town, and target homes and parked cars to steal high-end jewelry, credit cards, cash, and other expensive valuables.
“This crime is definitely on the FBI’s radar, and we are tracking identified international organized theft groups to intercept them as they move between targets and are working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate the threat," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Herbert Stapleton.
FBI Indianapolis shared several tips to avoid becoming victim to crime:
- Vary your daily routine
- Don't post on social media that you're on vacation
- Utilize a doorbell camera with an alarm system
- Keep inside lights on with timers
- Take photos of valuables and keep those items in a safe
- Don't leave larges amounts of cash in the home
Anyone with information on organized crime can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
