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Oakland County sheriff shares what needs to be done to stop burglaries
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard is calling on lawmakers to make changes as the county continues to see high-end break-ins committed by suspects connected to a Chilean crime ring. He says the suspects they have arrested have come into the United States through a visa waiver program.
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - As authorities in Oakland County continue to deal with thieves targeting high-end homes, Sheriff Mike Bouchard is calling for an end to a program that he says is allowing the suspects into the United States.
Bouchard says Chilean gangs are to blame for these crimes. The burglaries are all the same - the suspects break into houses, often use jammers to override security systems, and take money, expensive purses, and jewelry.
"We know the Chileans are extremely well-trained. There's probably a training camp somewhere in Chilie. We need to have some pressure exerted to shut that down, and to stop the pipeline of these new trained teams that are coming in and hammering us," he said.
Chilean national arrested in connection with Oakland County break-ins after Novi home invasion attempt
A Chilean national who police say was not supposed to be in the United States is facing charges in connection with high-end home break-ins in Oakland County.
While many suspects are still on the run, Bouchard says the ones who have been arrested came into the country through a Visa Waiver Program.
"We need to stop the VWP - the Visa Waiver Program - that 100% of the Chilean teams that we've arrested and charged in Oakland County have come through," he said.
The VWP allows most citizens and nationals from certain countries, including Chile, to travel to the U.S. for fewer than 90 days without getting a visa.
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Al Assad's fall & stopping Chilean gangs in Oakland County
Discussing the fall of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad. Plus, Oakland County Mike Bouchard discusses what needs to be done to stop Chilean gangs that are targeting high-end homes in the county.