Three ‘crime tourists’ charged in series of southwest Charlotte break-ins, CMPD says
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have arrested three men accused in a series of Charlotte break-ins and believed to be a part of a South American crime ring.
Maj. Jonathan Thomas said Thursday Alexander Panameno, 49, and Anuar Noviteno, 33, were charged in at least 18 cases in Charlotte, and possibly linked to more than 50 cases in the United States.
A third man, David Caicedo-Delgado, 34, is accused of being the getaway driver. He was charged in one case in Charlotte, but is being investigated for involvement in other states, Thomas said.
The men also allegedly committed similar crimes in Iowa and Texas, Thomas said. They are believed to be part of South American theft groups, sometimes known as “crime tourists,” who come to the United States and specifically steal from wealthy homes before returning to their home countries, Thomas said.
Break-in suspects identified
CMPD officers used surveillance footage and similarities between incidents to determine the break-ins occurred in southwest Charlotte between September 2023 and June.
Panameno and Noviteno were identified as suspects in May, Thomas said. The pair allegedly tried to blend in by wearing clothing to make them appear as construction or landscaping workers.
They allegedly watched potential victims to see what kinds of things they could steal. And they mainly broke into high-wealth homes during daylight hours, Thomas said.
CMPD tracks suspects in break ins
On June 7, CMPD tracked a suspect’s vehicle, a white Ford Transit van, to a home on Tribune Drive in west Charlotte. Thomas said officers saw Panameno and Noviteno break into the home. That’s when those two men and Caicedo-Delgado, the driver of the van on June 7, were taken into custody.
A search warrant for a home on Walkers Cove Trail in west Charlotte turned up designer handbags, about $130,000 in jewelry and watches, and more than $12,000 in cash Thomas said.
Thomas said some items likely were sold locally, but cash likely was sent back to the alleged suspects’ home countries. No weapons or drugs were stolen, he said.
