Authorities on Wednesday announced criminal charges against seven people tied to a string of home burglaries across Southern California, alleging the suspects were part of sophisticated burglary rings that used high-tech methods to target victims.
Among them, 27-year-old Byron Gonzálo Sáez Sotomayor — also known as Kevin Diaz — faces the most charges. Prosecutors charged him with 15 counts of first-degree residential burglary, three counts of attempted first-degree residential burglary and one count of grand theft of a firearm for alleged crimes committed between January 2025 and May 2026.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, authorities arrested Sotomayor on May 4 while he was allegedly fleeing a burglary in the Beverlywood neighborhood.
Authorities also filed charges against several other suspects connected to the alleged burglary rings.
Christopher Sanchez, 26; Owen Rivera-Chacon, 24; and Edisson Fabian Boyaca, 27, each face one count of first-degree residential burglary. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputies tracked the suspected burglary crew into Santa Clarita, where authorities arrested the trio. Investigators believe the men could also be tied to additional burglaries across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Meanwhile, Wilmar Santiago Castelblanco-Robles, 20; Cristian Rios-Cuadros, 24; and Alan Rolando Rodriguez-Pulido, 34, were each charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary. Prosecutors said Castelblanco-Robles and Rios-Cuadros allegedly ran from officers after Burbank police responded to a burglary report. Authorities later arrested Rodriguez-Pulido while he was driving the suspected getaway vehicle.
Investigators said officers recovered high-end handbags, wallets, watches and jewelry from the vehicle that they believe were stolen from other victims.
Speaking during a Wednesday morning news conference about the arrests, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said, “These organizations frequently conduct extensive pre-planning and use sophisticated tactics.”
Authorities said residential burglaries have actually declined across the Los Angeles area, but a recent spike in crimes in the San Fernando Valley and other communities has intensified public concern.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff outlined the arrests and described the sophisticated tactics these burglary crews allegedly use, including hidden surveillance cameras and WiFi jammers.
Investigators said the crews also monitor victims’ social media accounts to determine when homeowners are traveling. In some cases, suspects allegedly place a DoorDash bag on a front porch and ring the doorbell to see if anyone answers.
Sheriff Robert Luna displayed one of the hidden cameras recovered during a recent arrest. Authorities said the device was concealed inside a box wrapped in artificial turf so it could blend into the area outside a home while monitoring residents’ activities.
“What’s in it is a phone and a camera with extra batteries,” Luna said. “If you see anything that looks like this in your neighbor’s home, in your home, report it to us immediately. That is the sophistication that these individuals are using.”
Authorities urged residents to take precautions by informing neighbors, police or sheriff’s deputies when they plan to travel. Officials also warned people against posting vacation plans on social media, saying such posts can alert burglars that homes are empty.
Luna also noted that hard-wired security systems offer better protection than wireless systems, which can be disrupted using advanced technology.
Many of the recent burglaries and robberies have occurred in upscale and suburban neighborhoods throughout the San Fernando Valley. Authorities said businesses near the fashionable Melrose Avenue district have also been repeatedly targeted in overnight break-ins, with several locations hit during the same night.
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