Greek police have reported arrests involving alleged burglary network active in Greece comprised of Chilean nationals, highlighting what investigators describe as a growing pattern of “crime tourism” in which highly mobile South American “crews” enter European countries for short periods, carry out targeted thefts and quickly leave before authorities can identify them.
The latest case concerns a high-value burglary at a luxury residence in the coastal southeast Athens coastal district of Voula. Police said three Chilean nationals and a local woman were involved, with two of the suspects identified, as the alleged perpetrators of a December break-in in which luxury watches worth more than 1.5 million euros were stolen.
Investigators believe the group followed a well-established modus operandi, targeting affluent detached homes in Athens’ northern and southern suburbs. The suspects allegedly conducted surveillance, accessed neighboring properties to approach their targets unnoticed and entered homes without leaving forensic traces. Authorities say the burglars typically operated in teams of three or four and relied on fake documents, rental vehicles, short-term accommodation booked under third-party names and taxi-hailing applications to avoid detection.
Police are also examining links to other unsolved burglaries across Greece. European and international arrest warrants are expected to be issued for the two main suspects, who remain at large.
Over the past year, US authorities have linked several high-profile burglaries targeting professional athletes to Chilean and other South American theft groups that allegedly traveled internationally to commit crimes before returning home. FBI investigations found that such networks often use rented vehicles, temporary mobile phones, forged identification documents and local accomplices, while focusing on luxury goods including watches, jewelry and cash. Authorities say the groups frequently select targets when occupants are known to be away and employ sophisticated techniques to bypass security systems.
In April 2025, Chilean police, working with the FBI, arrested 23 people suspected of participating in transnational burglary networks operating in the United States. Investigators said many of the suspects had no criminal records in Chile despite extensive criminal activity abroad.
European authorities have also confronted similar networks. Previous investigations coordinated by Europol identified South American burglary crews that traveled across multiple countries, exploiting open-border travel within the Schengen area to move rapidly between jurisdictions while targeting affluent neighborhoods and high-value properties.
