Police tape blocks off the crime scene outside a church where a man shot dead four people, including three of his children, before turning the gun on himself, February 28, 2022 in Sacramento, California. A father shot dead three of his own children on February 28 before turning the gun on himself in a US church, police said. A fifth person also died in the shooting in Sacramento, California, though it was not clear if that person was related to what police said was a domestic incident. (Photo by Andri Tambunan / AFP) (Photo by ANDRI TAMBUNAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles, California – What looked like a housecleaning gig turned out to be something far more calculated.
Los Angeles police say two women posing as cleaning service workers used a mobile app to book housecleaning jobs across the San Fernando Valley — but instead of scrubbing floors, they allegedly walked out with luxury handbags, jewelry, and stacks of cash.
According to the LAPD, 30-year-old Nikol Quiroga and 49-year-old Sandra Aguillon, both Colombian nationals, were arrested on Sept. 30 following a multi-agency investigation that included the FBI and the California Highway Patrol. Detectives believe the pair are part of a larger organized crime ring that’s been quietly targeting homes throughout the Valley.
The women, police say, created fake profiles on a cleaning service app that connects homeowners with domestic workers. Once hired, they allegedly used those bookings to enter private homes under false pretenses — the perfect cover for a string of high-end burglaries that went unnoticed for months.
When officers searched the suspects’ apartment and vehicles, they found more than $50,000 in cash, along with an assortment of high-end goods — handbags, watches, and jewelry — that police say were stolen from multiple victims. Investigators also recovered burglary tools that hint at a broader, more coordinated operation: Wi-Fi jammers, GPS trackers, trail cameras, cellphones, and even stolen license plates.
“This wasn’t a one-off,” a law enforcement source familiar with the case said. “This was professional. They knew what they were doing, and they used technology to stay a step ahead.”
Both women were booked into the Van Nuys Jail for grand theft, according to LAPD records. They are being held pending further investigation, as detectives work to determine how many homes were targeted and whether other suspects may still be at large.
Police believe the scheme may be part of a growing trend of so-called “transnational burglary crews,” often operating in small teams and moving between states — or even countries — to avoid detection. The LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division has been coordinating with federal agents to trace the stolen property and identify any possible links to larger criminal networks.
For residents, the case is a reminder of how quickly technology can blur the line between convenience and vulnerability. What’s meant to make life easier — an app that sends a cleaner to your home — can also open the door, quite literally, to people with other intentions.
The LAPD is urging anyone who hired cleaning services through apps or third-party platforms in recent months to double-check records and report suspicious activity.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD’s Major Theft Task Force at (213) 486-5920 or submit anonymous tips through L.A. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org
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