“…an international criminal organization that committed 17 robberies, primarily by attacking sales representatives and couriers after they had returned to their homes or hotel rooms. He said the group used prolonged, sophisticated surveillance methods to identify vulnerable salesmen, who were targeted throughout Virginia as well as in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, California and Tennessee over the past 
two years. Sometimes the robbed salesmen would be followed for hundreds of miles and across state lines. Â
Seven people have been charged with operating a jewelry-theft ring based in Richmond, Va. that authorities say stole more than $4.6 million in merchandise from traveling salesmen in Virginia and several other states.
“This is a group that allegedly did their homework,” MacBride said in a conference call with reporters.
Court documents say the group of Colombians has ties to South American theft groups, which federal authorities say are transnational criminal groups that work in teams to steal jewelry, gems and precious metals from those who carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise at one time.
Prosecutors say that after a successful robbery, members of the ring would travel to New York to sell the merchandise to “fences” who would either resell it or melt it down for later use. MacBride said the group didn’t target any one particular type of jewelry, saying it included gold and gems, among other things.
