BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Three men suspected of a string of high-end residential burglaries across multiple states were arrested Friday in Chattanooga following a traffic stop conducted by a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper.
According to law enforcement officials, the suspects — identified as Chilean nationals — are believed to be part of an organized burglary ring that targeted homes in Tennessee, Missouri, and California. Authorities recovered stolen items including Rolex watches and jewelry during the arrest, along with fake Peruvian identification documents.
The arrests came just days after Brentwood police warned residents to remain vigilant following a reported burglary in the affluent Witherspoon neighborhood. That incident, authorities say, is part of a broader pattern of break-ins believed to be carried out by foreign gangs operating in Middle Tennessee.
One Brentwood resident, Deborah Newitz, shared her personal experience during a Memorial Day press conference organized by Congressman Andy Ogles. Speaking publicly for the first time, Newitz described a harrowing incident in which four masked men dressed in black scaled her fence and broke into her home.
“After nine minutes of using crowbars and striking and kicking doors and glass panels, they eventually gained access to our home,” Newitz said. Though she wasn’t home at the time, her teenage daughter was present during the invasion. The burglars escaped with valuable items, including jewelry, cash, and irreplaceable personal belongings.
“Among jewelry and cash, these men stole heirlooms and inexpensive, but irreplaceable, Mother’s Day gifts that my children made for me,” Newitz added.
Congressman Ogles used the event to highlight growing concerns about international crime rings targeting American neighborhoods. “This is not just about theft — it’s about the feeling of security being ripped away from families,” Ogles said.
Brentwood police continue to work with state and federal agencies to investigate the extent of the burglary network and whether additional suspects may be involved. Residents are being urged to report suspicious activity and take extra security precautions.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the arrested individuals pending further investigation.
