SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team arrests 5 members of a South American theft group known to target Asian business owners

In December 2024, Crime Analysts with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) reviewed a bulletin issued by the Union City Police Department (UCPD) advising other agencies about a group of suspects committing residential burglaries where the victims were business owners of Asian descent. The UCPD detective learned through his investigation the suspects may have targeted victims in numerous jurisdictions, including Santa Rosa. The RTCC was aware of at least eleven residential burglaries of Santa Rosa community members of Asian descent within the last approximately 14 months. Additionally, they were aware of a nationwide trend of theft groups involving foreign nationals of South American descent targeting Asian victims.  

The RTCC began collaborating with the UCPD detective and the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team (PCI) to learn more about the burglary suspects. Utilizing technology such as Flock Safety Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR), the RTCC was able to identify an additional vehicle associated with several residential burglaries. ALPR technology is used by SRPD to capture objective evidence without compromising individual privacy. This same technology is used by numerous California law enforcement agencies, allowing for information sharing during large-scale investigations that cross multiple jurisdictional boundaries.  

As RTCC analysts continued to mine through data related to the suspects and the known burglaries that had occurred in Santa Rosa, a residential alarm call was received by the SRPD Communications Center at approximately 12:23 pm on December 18, 2024. While monitoring the alarm call live, an Analyst discovered the alarm subscriber had an Asian surname and notified SRPD PCI. A witness in the area of the burglary provided SRPD officers with the license plate number of a suspicious vehicle seen near the victim's address. RTCC again utilized ALPR data to track the movements of the vehicle in Santa Rosa. Information obtained by RTCC and PCI detectives led the PCI team to Vallejo, where they located two of the involved vehicles. Multiple surveillance teams composed of detectives with SRPD PCI, Narcotics Investigations Team, Violent Crimes Investigations Team, and the Gang Crimes Team began conducting surveillance on the vehicles, people associated with the vehicles, and an Airbnb residence in Vallejo believed to have been rented by the suspects.  

On December 19, 2024, at approximately 2:15 pm, the surveillance team observed four of the suspects hastily loading their vehicles with bags believed to be filled with stolen property. Believing the suspects were preparing to flee the area, SRPD detectives and uniformed SRPD officers staged nearby acted immediately to detain them. All four suspects fled on foot in different directions, with SRPD personnel chasing them. All four suspects were quickly apprehended by SRPD detectives and officers. As these foot pursuits occurred, a fifth suspect attempted to run from the rented home but was quickly detained by members of the remaining surveillance team.  

With five suspects in custody and associated vehicles and a residence confirmed, the SRPD PCI team served search warrants on the vehicles and home. They located equipment and tools indicative of a very sophisticated burglary ring such as GPS devices, camouflaged trail cameras, more than 15 cell phones, delivery driver costumes, yard maintenance clothing and equipment, and night vision goggles. Detectives also seized an undisclosed amount of US currency and high-value personal items such as jewelry and designer handbags. Based on the investigation, PCI detectives believe the suspects are Colombian nationals associated with a South American Theft Group (SATG) that moves from city to city targeting Asian business owners. 

Earlier in the day, surveillance teams had followed both associated vehicles to a residential area in San Rafael. Detectives were unable to determine if the suspects in the vehicles were conducting surveillance of a potential victim or if they were committing a residential burglary. The detectives continued to surveil the suspects as they returned to Vallejo. After serving the search warrant for the residence and vehicles associated with the suspects, detectives discovered evidence associated with a home in San Rafael and confirmed the suspects had burglarized that residence. SRPD PCI detectives have taken lead on the San Rafael burglary investigation and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has assumed prosecution of the Marin County crime.  

Martin Hernandez, age 29; Carlos Alberto Ousset-Orozco, age 34; Julio Gomez-Herrera, age 26; Carlos Andres Lopez-Diaz, age 23; and Miguel Romero-Morales, age 37, were arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on December 20, 2025, for the following charges: 

459 PC - Burglary 

182(a)(1) PC - Conspiracy 

496(a) PC - Possession of stolen property 

12022.65 PC - Act in concert (New Prop. 36 law)  

12022.6 PC - Excessive theft (New Prop. 36 law) 

148(a)(1) PC - Resist, obstruct, delay peace officer  

A bail enhancement was requested by PCI detectives and on December 19, 2024, a Sonoma County Superior Court Judge issued an order of no bail for all five suspects. The above-mentioned names are presumed to be the tentative identities of all five suspects. Some of the suspects were found to be in possession of fraudulent Mexican passports and other potentially fake identification documents. The primary reasons for denying bail were the inability to immediately positively identify all five suspects and the consideration that they were a flight risk.  

At the time of this release, SRPD PCI detectives continue to scour through immense amounts of physical and digital evidence with the belief this group is associated with other similar residential burglaries. Detectives are attempting to ascertain if the suspects are responsible for the previously reported burglaries in Santa Rosa and similar burglaries in other jurisdictions. SRPD PCI detectives will be working with investigators at agencies where we believe their community members were victims of this group. 

The success of this investigation would not have been possible without the assistance and partnership of the Union City Police Department and their investigators, the Vallejo Police Department, the RTCC, and other SRPD investigative units. The partnership between these teams was crucial for investigating this complex case and arresting those responsible. By sharing resources, expertise, and intelligence, these collaborations strengthen our ability to protect and serve the community effectively. 

We are deeply concerned by the ongoing targeting of members of the Asian community throughout the nation. We want to reassure our community that the Santa Rosa Police Department is fully committed to investigating these crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. We are working closely with community leaders and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of all residents, and we encourage anyone with information to come forward. Our department stands with the Asian community, and we are dedicated to protecting every member of our city.  

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 24-14540. 

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634.