Sheriff Eddie Cathey is proud to announce the identification and apprehension of three suspects responsible for a brazen residential burglary that occurred in the Highgate neighborhood of Weddington on February 2, 2025. These arrests are the result of weeks of dedicated investigative work involving multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

On the date of the burglary, deputies responded to a call for service involving an active break-in at a residence within the Highgate neighborhood. Despite a rapid response from law enforcement, the suspects managed to flee the scene before deputies arrived. Investigators immediately began an extensive effort to identify and locate the individuals responsible.

Following weeks of in-depth investigative work, UCSO detectives, working in close collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Huntersville Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) successfully identified three individuals connected to the crime. Their investigative efforts culminated in the suspects’ arrests Tuesday evening in Columbia, South Carolina.

The three individuals taken into custody have been identified as Joiner Jhosuet Cortes Morales, Terry Stiven Cajamarca-Grijalba, and Cristian Hernan Pirajan-Rivera, all of whom are foreign nationals from Colombia. Each suspect has a criminal history spanning multiple states and is wanted for numerous burglary-related offenses across the United States. All three are currently being held at the York County Detention Center in South Carolina under secured bonds of $300,000 each. In addition to their local charges, they are also being held on detainers issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and each offender will face extradition to other jurisdictions where they are wanted for additional crimes.

Through extensive investigative efforts, authorities determined that these individuals are part of a well-organized, transnational criminal enterprise commonly referred to as the “South American Theft Group.” This group, which operates throughout the United States, is composed primarily of individuals who enter the country illegally with the intent to commit property crimes, primarily high-end residential burglaries. The group is believed to be responsible for countless burglaries nationwide, including more than ten break-ins across the southeastern United States in recent months.

In the wake of these arrests, UCSO detectives and our law enforcement partners continue to investigate this burglary and similar crimes that have occurred in our area over the past two to three years. Investigators remain committed to pursuing every available lead and analyzing critical evidence to ensure that all members of this criminal network are identified, charged, and brought to justice. Additional arrests and charges in connection to this case and others like it are expected.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey commended the tireless efforts of UCSO detectives and the dedication of all partnering agencies. “These arrests are a direct result of determined, coordinated law enforcement efforts across multiple jurisdictions. Our investigators, alongside our law enforcement partners, have worked relentlessly to identify, track, and apprehend these dangerous criminals. We will not allow organized crime groups to target our communities, and we will continue pursuing justice for every victim impacted by these offenses.”

The Union County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Anyone with information related to this case or similar incidents is encouraged to contact the UCSO Main Office at (704) 283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at (704) 283-5600. Anonymous crime tips can also be submitted through the free UCSO smartphone application, available in app stores.