BROWARD COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A string of high-end residential burglaries in Weston that cost homeowners more than $2 million is now tied to what BSO describes as a sophisticated theft group, after a six-month investigation that ran from last August through January.
BSO said homeowners in the Windmill Ranch community were targeted during that period. Deputies and detectives said the group carried out detailed surveillance before breaking into homes, then focused on safes to steal cash and jewelry.
The investigation was led by BSO and included BSO’s Burglary Apprehension Team. Detectives said the suspects were part of a South American Theft Group, described as organized criminal groups that target high-end homes using surveillance and technology.
BSO said two people were arrested for their roles in the Windmill Ranch burglaries: Jose Elias Barrozo-Espinsoa (DOB 12/4/1987) and Daniel Osorio-Valencia (DOB 7/22/1983). BSO also said four additional people believed to have been involved were arrested on unrelated charges, and that the investigation involving those individuals remains active and ongoing.
Detectives said the group used rear sliding doors and windows to get into homes. BSO said the equipment tied to the crimes included WIFI jammers, two-way radios, hammers, Sawzalls and inflatable boats. Investigators said the inflatable boats were used to traverse a nearby waterway to gain access to the gated community.
BSO said DNA from Barrozo-Espinsoa was located following a November burglary. In March, BSO said he was arrested in Indiana while trying to commit another high-end residential burglary. BSO said he has been extradited to Broward County to face charges in the Weston case.
BSO also detailed a Dec. 31 attempted burglary at an unoccupied home in Windmill Ranch. Detectives said the homeowner received an alert on his phone and called 911. BSO deputies responded and captured one suspect, identified as Osorio-Valencia.
Authority for the investigation sits with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which handled the case through its deputies, detectives and the Burglary Apprehension Team, and worked with other law enforcement partners, according to the agency.
What happens next is continued casework. BSO said the investigation is active and ongoing for the additional individuals believed to be involved.
For residents in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach County, the case is another reminder of how organized burglary crews can operate in gated and high-end neighborhoods, using surveillance and technology and looking for cash and jewelry stored in safes. In this case, BSO said the suspects used tools and equipment designed to help them get in and out quickly and avoid detection.
BSO noted that earlier this month, more than 20 BSO employees earned BSO Employee of the Month honors from the city of Weston, and the city posted a news release with additional details of the case and the recognition.
