Surveillance image of suspect from L.A. burglaries |
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Police in Australia have arrested a man who could be the "Rico Suave" bandit wanted in a series of hotel room burglaries in Los Angeles, authorities said.
Hernan Antonio Birones-Castillo, 44, of Peru, was arrested Wednesday at a currency exchange, according to New South Wales police. They say he had a fake passport when he was arrested.
He has been charged with impersonating a hotel employee in order to steal cash and jewelry from rooms at high-end Australian hotels.
Australian authorities think Barones-Castillo is responsible for thefts at hotels in Sydney on January 4 and 13. He's also accused of stealing $54,000 worth of jewelry from a store in the Rocks area of Sydney. And police in Melbourne think he stole $90,000 in jewelry from a hotel room.
Los Angeles police detectives are now talking to Australian police.
They believe the suspect may be responsible for a rash of similar crimes in the L.A. area. The hotel thefts here targeted a Mexican soccer, an Israeli basketball team, and a billionaire couple from Florida in town for the Oscars.
Hernan Antonio Birones-Castillo, 44, of Peru, was arrested Wednesday at a currency exchange, according to New South Wales police. They say he had a fake passport when he was arrested.
He has been charged with impersonating a hotel employee in order to steal cash and jewelry from rooms at high-end Australian hotels.
Australian authorities think Barones-Castillo is responsible for thefts at hotels in Sydney on January 4 and 13. He's also accused of stealing $54,000 worth of jewelry from a store in the Rocks area of Sydney. And police in Melbourne think he stole $90,000 in jewelry from a hotel room.
Los Angeles police detectives are now talking to Australian police.
They believe the suspect may be responsible for a rash of similar crimes in the L.A. area. The hotel thefts here targeted a Mexican soccer, an Israeli basketball team, and a billionaire couple from Florida in town for the Oscars.
