LOS ANGELES — Federal and international law enforcement agencies have successfully recovered valuable items stolen during Los Angeles-area burglaries by South American theft organizations, returning irreplaceable possessions to victims including actor Keanu Reeves.
International Operation Yields Results
Chilean law enforcement officials from the Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) turned over stolen valuables to the FBI in late July 2025, culminating a joint operation targeting organized burglary crews operating across international borders.
The PDI recovered the items during multiple search warrants executed in Santiago, Chile, in early 2025. Investigators identified the property as having been stolen from two Los Angeles victims during burglaries attributed to South American Theft Groups (SATG), criminal organizations that have increasingly targeted affluent communities throughout Southern California.
Actor’s Stolen Watch Returned
Keanu Reeves became a burglary victim in December 2023 when his Los Angeles home was burglarized, prompting an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Among the stolen items was a personalized Rolex watch from the “John Wick” film series, making the timepiece both valuable and irreplaceable due to its connection to Reeves’ iconic film franchise.
In late August 2025, FBI personnel and a Chilean PDI officer met with Reeves in New York to return his recovered property. The actor expressed gratitude through a handwritten letter thanking all agencies involved in the international effort.
“Thank you so much for all your effort, dedication, professionalism and cross-border cooperation. My warmest regards, Keanu,” the letter read, after acknowledging the LAPD, FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, FBI’s legal attaché office in Santiago, the PDI, and Chile’s National Prosecutor’s Office.
Second Victim Receives Stolen Jewelry
The international law enforcement team subsequently met with Eric Lorscheider, whose Los Angeles home was burglarized on March 31, 2023. Lorscheider, who has since relocated to another state, received dozens of jewelry items including his Duke University class ring.
However, additional items Lorscheider cherished from his service in the U.S. Marine Corps remain missing and have not been recovered. Both victims expressed similar appreciation to investigators for recovering possessions with significant personal and sentimental value.
South American Theft Groups Explained
SATG describes criminal organizations from South American countries that travel internationally to commit sophisticated thefts. These groups target residential burglaries, jewelry stores, retail establishments, vehicles, and even engage in pickpocketing operations.
Chilean SATG actors employ advanced techniques including surveillance of targets and technical tools to facilitate their crimes. Recent months have seen increased targeting of professional athletes and celebrities, whose homes contain high-value items and whose travel schedules can be tracked publicly.
“This case is a perfect example of the excellent international cooperation we enjoy with our Chilean counterparts and our local partners at Los Angeles Police Department,” said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “These crimes affect celebrities and non-public figures alike, and the FBI is committed to assisting our local partners in combatting this scourge affecting the lives of innocent victims.”
International Cooperation Strengthens
LAPD Chief of Police Jim McDonnell emphasized how modern criminal networks operate across borders, requiring coordinated international responses. The successful recovery demonstrates that organized theft groups face pursuit regardless of where they operate or attempt to hide stolen goods.
“This case underscores how crime today knows no borders, and how vital our international partnerships are in bringing justice to victims here in Los Angeles,” McDonnell stated. “The recovery of these stolen items sends a strong message that organized theft groups will be pursued wherever they operate.”
Enhanced Information Sharing
Eduardo Cerna Lozano, director general of the PDI, highlighted his agency’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime through international partnerships. The operation made progress in dismantling criminal organizations operating across multiple countries.
Information-sharing agreements between U.S. and Chilean authorities have helped close loopholes that previously enabled criminal groups to exploit tourist visas for traveling between countries while transporting stolen goods internationally.
Isaac Delong, FBI legal attaché in Santiago, described cooperation between agencies as reflecting strong international collaboration in handling complex transnational cases.
Ongoing Investigations
Multiple FBI field offices and the Santiago legal attaché office are actively investigating numerous SATG-linked crimes that occurred across various U.S. jurisdictions. The FBI works collaboratively through its Major Theft Task Force and other channels to share intelligence with local law enforcement agencies.
While burglary remains classified as a local crime in the United States, the international dimensions of organized theft groups require federal involvement and cross-border coordination to effectively combat these criminal networks.
The successful recovery operation demonstrates that sophisticated criminal organizations cannot simply flee to other countries to escape accountability, as international law enforcement partnerships continue strengthening to protect victims and pursue justice across borders.
