‘Crime tourists’ linked to 50 cases nationwide charged in 18 North Carolina home break-ins

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) – Three men have been arrested in connection to a series of home break-ins that are believed to be coordinated through a larger criminal network of South American theft groups, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The three suspects have been identified as Alexander Panameno, 49, Anuar Noviteno, 33, and David Caicedo-Delgado, 34, authorities said.

Panameno and Noviteno have been charged in at least 18 cases in Charlotte and potentially linked to more than 50 cases across the U.S.

CMPD said Caicedo-Delgado is a suspected getaway driver and has been charged in one case in Charlotte and is currently under investigation in multiple cases outside of the city.

Authorities said the 18 cases in this investigation happened primarily in the Steele Creek division between September 2023 and June 2024.

South American Theft Groups have also been called ‘crime tourists,’ CMPD said. They said the trend involves highly skilled and mobile criminals who generally target households, stealing high-end designer items before returning to their country of origin.

CMPD said over months of investigative work, their detectives were able to connect 18 incidents through similarities in the methods of the burglaries and through surveillance footage.

Panameno and Noviteno generally broke into homes during the daytime hours, wearing high-visibility clothing to appear as construction or lawncare workers to avoid suspicion, CMPD said. The suspects targeted victims with similar demographics and stole luxury items.

In May 2024, detectives said they were able to identify Panameno and Noviteno as suspects and identified several suspect vehicles, including a white Ford transit van.

Surveillance operations were conducted between late May to early June 2024. On June 7, detectives tracked the white Ford van to a location on Tribune Drive where they said the two suspects were witnessed breaking into a home.

Both were taken into custody at that time. Caicedo-Delgado was arrested after that incident and confirmed as the driver of the van, CMPD said.

A search warrant was executed at another home and the suspects’ vehicles on Walkers Cove Trail, where CMPD said detectives seized stolen luxury items including jewelry, watches, and handbags totaling about $130,000.

Tools and masks were also found, as well as more than $12,000 in cash, CMPD said.

Anyone with further information on these cases is asked to call 704-432-TIPS. The public can also call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD released several tips on how residents can prevent their homes from being targeted:

• Utilize deadbolts
• Install window locks
• Have good exterior lighting
• If you have an alarm, make sure it’s operational and registered
• Notify trusted neighbors when going out of town
• If you have a safe in your home, make sure it’s at least 200 lbs

Watch CMPD’s full news conference below:

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