Chile burglars jailed

Three men from Chile who travelled to the UK with the intention of committing crime have been jailed for more than 13 years.

Nicholas Oviedo, 26, Alexis Oviedo, 25, and Joel Ureta, 42, were all members of an organised crime gang that arrived in the UK in January with the sole aim of committing burglaries at high-value homes.

After arriving in the country, they set up base at a hotel in Manchester and hired a car to help them commit their offences.

Between Saturday 4 January and Wednesday 15 January the trio committed multiple burglaries in affluent areas of Cheshire but their crime spree was brought to an end when a man out walking on Legh Road, Knutsford, heard an alarm going off at a nearby address.

He approached the house and noticed two men, who were acting suspiciously, getting into the car that the trio had hired, a dark Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which was parked near to the entrance. The man made a note of the registration number and reported his concerns to Cheshire Constabulary.

By the time police officers attended the scene the men had left.

A police marker was placed on the vehicle which was stopped by Greater Manchester Police officers and the three occupants were arrested.

An investigation by detectives from Macclesfield CID uncovered ANPR data and cell-site analysis, which linked the men to at least seven burglaries in Knutsford, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Prestbury. 

The trio, all of no fixed address, subsequently pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary. They were all sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 1 July and jailed for a combined total of 13 years and four months.

Nicolas Oviedo received a four-year prison sentence.

Alexis Oviedo and Ureta were both handed custodial sentences of four years and eight months.

Following their sentencing, Detective Inspector Adam Alexander, who led the investigation, said: “Nicholas Oviedo, Alexis Oviedo and Joel Ureta are all members of a sophisticated organised crime gang that travels the world intent on committing crime.

“The burglaries were carefully planned and the trio specifically targeted high-value homes with the aim of stealing valuable items, including jewellery, before fleeing the country and hoping to evade justice.

“In just 11 days the gang carried out at least seven burglaries and stole goods worth more than £118,000.

“Thankfully, as a result of an eagle-eyed neighbour and the work of a dedicated team of detectives, they are now facing the consequences of their actions.”

This is the second case of ‘burglary tourism’ convictions in Cheshire in recent weeks.

All three men will be deported to Chile, South America, once they have served their sentences.