Chile Con Carnage as Raids Hit Brits

This investigative piece delved further into the news about criminals flying over to England and raiding houses. We discovered through talking to Chilean police that the problem was widespread and that many of those who were convicted for robbery over here deliberately avoided getting consulate help to prevent UK cops learning of arrest warrants issued for them back home.

MORE than 100 Chileans have been deported after being convicted of high value burglaries in the past seven years. The South American gangs raid mansions — often flying in for one specific robbery.

In the past year alone, 36 have been sent home after being convicted.

Ivan Villanueva, who heads a Chilean unit combatting violent crime, said: "Their speciality nowadays are burglaries. "The majority of these organisations are family units. One might go to Europe first and contact people there.

"Other members then join them one by one from different destinations, making it impossible to track them down."

The gangs have long criminal records but because they arrive here as tourists — often from Spain and via African countries — UK authorities have no knowledge of their convictions.

Their raids are typically on large properties in affluent areas.

In April four Chileans were convicted of stealing jewellery worth £10,000 from a £1.6million house in Rickmansworth, Herts.

A court heard three of the four had been arrested 32 times in Chile and one, Angelo Bustamente, 34, had 17 convictions.

There are also fears that the gangs are exploiting EU freedom of movement laws.

Mr Villanueva said: "Chilean law enables us to prevent entry to someone who has been convicted of serious crimes in their country of origin.

"Many EU countries don't have that ability."

One Chilean was deported from the UK, then from Italy and Spain but managed to get back by arriving from Portugal. He is now in jail.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We take preventing foreign criminals entering the UK extremely seriously and continue to strengthen our borders."