Midwest
Michigan county plagued by 'burglary tourism' as foreign crime gangs abuse US visa waiver program
A Michigan sheriff is sounding the alarm on “burglary tourism” — a recent trend where international organized crime groups enter the U.S. to skillfully rob wealthy suburban homes.
“We believe that there has to be some kind of training camp because they come so well-trained, so equipped, and so knowledgeable about how to move and how to attack a home,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard on Wednesday told “FOX & Friends.”
“They do a lot of pre-op surveillance. They determine as best they can when someone won’t be in a home. They go very quickly to the home, they break a window. They go through it, not opening a door or window. They have an electronic jammer.”
‘RAM RAIDING’ AND ‘CRASH AND GRAB’ NEW VIOLENT BURGLARY TREND TARGETING BRICK-AND-MORTAR BUSINESSES
Bouchard said the gangs, mostly from Chile, are then able to quickly target home safes and small high-end items.
“They’re very focused on high-end jewelry, like watches, cash, high-end purses… things that are highly, valuable and disposable. And out they go and they move on. They usually hit a number of homes in our area, and then they move on to another part of the country, and then another crew will come in. And it’s been a cycle,” he said.
Bouchard urged the State Department to reevaluate Chile’s participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows tourists and business travelers to enter America for 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa or go through a thorough vetting process.
“All we’re asking is that the federal government either pause or discontinue Chile from that program. Now, that doesn’t mean they can’t come and visit from Chile. They just have to get a traditional visa with a higher level of scrutiny and background than what happens currently with the BWP,” he said, adding that Colombians entering the U.S. through the southern border are also contributing to the crimes.
Surveillance video shows thieves climbing an upstairs balcony and breaking into a California home through a sliding door. (Orange County District Attorney’s Office)
Similar crimes have been reported in California, New Jersey and New York.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has been warning about the issue since last summer, calling the Southern California burglaries “carefully calculated and planned.”
Spitzer filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration for failing to respond to public records requests involving documentation on the issue. He has also called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to use his powers to strike Chile from the program.
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The South American nation, which the State Department describes as a regional leader for the rule of law and economic stability, is the only Latin American country on the 41-country list.
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — Cleveland is once again setting sail into cruise season — and this year could be its biggest yet.
The Port of Cleveland welcomed its first ship of 2026 on Tuesday, bringing visitors and a boost to the local economy along with it. Local leaders told Fox 8 that this is just the beginning.
“This is a great day. It’s officially the kickoff of the 2026 cruise season in Northeast Ohio and at the Port of Cleveland,” said Dave Gutheil, chief operating officer at the Port of Cleveland.
The arrival marked the start of what could be a record-breaking cruise season for the Port of Cleveland. Since launching cruise operations in 2017 with just nine ship visits, the port now expects 57 — its highest ever.
“Really a big economic impact on the city. Each passenger spends about $100 to $150 when they come in. So, we should have close to 10,000 passengers this year,” said Gutheil.
That excitement is exactly what local leaders are counting on as cruise tourism continues to grow year after year. Visitors are stepping off ships and straight into Cleveland’s top attractions — from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to the West Side Market and beyond.
“We are super excited. We have friends here, they’re going to show us around,” said cruise passengers, Margaret Niehaus and Robert Niehaus from Santa Barbara, Ca.
For travelers from across the country like the Niehaus’, the Great Lakes cruise is both scenic and personal.
“The cruise is great. The food is delicious, the staff is great, the ship, only about 200 passengers, it is very nice, really intimate,” the Niehaus’ said.
Victory I carries about 200 passengers on 10-to-14-day Great Lakes routes, with stops including Chicago, Toronto and Cleveland. For many, it’s a chance to see the Great Lakes in a completely different way.
“The Great Lakes are a very special ecosystem, very special environment, of course, you know, and having a chance to see them from the shore is a lifetime experience for a lot of people,” said cruise passenger Steve Kaverman from Denver, Colo.
Ships like this will continue arriving through mid-October — bringing thousands more visitors to Cleveland’s waterfront.
“If you see passengers from the cruise vessels out in Northeast Ohio, wish them a warm welcome to Cleveland and let’s put out the red carpet for them,” said Gutheil.
Trips can be booked directly through Victory Cruise Lines website. Port officials said they expect both visitor numbers and economic impact to keep growing in the years ahead.
Party City is making a comeback at Staples stores in Illinois.
The party retailer will be returning for business inside Staples stores across the country.
Among the Staples stores opening, Party City is in Chicago’s Wabash Avenue location.
You can find all Illinois locations on the Staples website.
This comes after the party supply company shut down all of its locations and filed for bankruptcy protection in December of 2024.
The filing was made in bankruptcy court in the Southern District of Texas, according to court documents obtained by CBS News. The company had liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to the filing.
A Coldwater man was arrested after a vehicle pursuit that went into Indiana Monday night.
Just after 9:45 p.m., deputies from the Branch County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for a license plate violation on Fiske Road near Newton Road.
The driver did not stop, and a vehicle pursuit was engaged. The vehicle fled south on Fremont Road, west on Copeland Road, then south on I-69.
The chase continued into Indiana, where the Indiana State Police (ISP) assisted. The vehicle came to a stop after a successful deployment of stop sticks.
The driver, a 39-year-old Coldwater man, attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended by BCSO deputies and ISP troopers.
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The driver was arrested and lodged by the Indiana State Police. Charges are being sought by the Branch County Sheriff’s Office.
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