Scottsdale Police link South American theft group to multiple purse snatchings, over $10,000 in fraudulent purchases and coordinated crimes across Arizona

37-year-old Luis Jimenez-Mojica and 26-year-old Daniel Ortega were arrested Wednesday, Aug. 6, in relation to a South American Theft Group (SATG) who were targeting elderly victims while they were shopping.

According to the police report, the suspects would steal the victims’ wallets and use the cards to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases.

In May of 2025, an investigation started into the group when a victim’s wallet was taken while they were shopping at a grocery store in Scottsdale. The cards that were stolen from the wallet were quickly used to purchase over $4,000 in electronics.

The Scottsdale Police Street Crimes

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