Chilean woman arrested in attempted Novi home invasion; police searching for 3 other suspects

(CBS DETROIT) A Chilean national was taken into custody by Novi police in relation to a string of home invasions that targeted upscale residences around Oakland County.

The 21-year-old Vania Herrera Valdes is accused of resisting and obstructing police as well as second-degree home invasion. According to officials, Valdes has a criminal record in the United States and is in the country illegally.

Police said that at approximately 7:19 p.m. on December 2, a resident in Novi contacted 911 after spotting several people on security footage trying to break into his house on Equestrian Trail. A white vehicle with out-of-state license plates was seen departing the site by officers on patrol in that region.

The driver of the van fled as police tried to pull it over. Four suspects fled from the van after it stopped after a brief pursuit. One of the individuals, subsequently identified as Valdes, was apprehended by officers.

According to the police, Valdes gave them a false identity, but with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they were able to identify her.

After being arraigned, Valdes was given a $100,000 bond. She is still being held at the Oakland County Jail.

The other three suspects are still being sought by the police.

In a news release, Novi officers Chief Erick Zinser stated, “This is a great example of our police and citizens working together to combat these criminal elements that continue to operate throughout the United States.” “With the assistance of our County, State, and Federal partners, we will keep looking into this crime. We still urge everyone in the community to be on the lookout and report any strange behavior occurring in their communities.

Novi police reported in November that they were looking into four different home intrusions that happened between October 31 and November 15. Homes with fields and forested areas directly behind them were the focus of those break-ins. Novi police suspect they are linked to South American transnational gangs that have stolen goods and used similar tactics in previous house invasions in Oakland County and the surrounding Metro Detroit towns during the past year.

Novi police are asking anyone with knowledge about the most recent attempted home invasion to contact them at 248-348-7100.

Joe Buczek works for CBS Detroit as the manager of digital content and promotion. The Leader and the Kalkaskian, the Oakland Press, the Morning Sun, the Grand Traverse Insider, and WWTV were among his prior employers.

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