CMPD: Three men charged in series of home burglaries in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC — Three men police say are linked to South American crime gangs are facing charges in connection with more than a dozen Charlotte-area home burglaries, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Thursday.

CMPD announced Thursday that Alexander Panameno, 49, Anua Noviteno, 33, and David Caicedo-Delgado, 34, have been charged with at least 18 counts in Charlotte. The trio may be connected to over 50 cases across the U.S. CMPD says the 18 cases occurred in the Steele Creek area between September 2023 and June 2024.

According to CMPD, Caicedo-Delgado is charged in one case in Charlotte and is being investigated in several cases outside the Queen City.

Maj. JD Thomas said CMPD currently has 19 arrest warrants, but additional charges could be filed against the suspects.

“There's a possibility there are several more,” Thomas said. “It could be as many as 100 if you count the surrounding jurisdictions.”

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Detectives began an investigation several months ago and were able to link the two based on surveillance footage and similarities in the break-ins. According to CMPD, Panameno and Noviteno typically targeted homes during the day and forced entry when necessary. According to CMPD, the suspects wore high-visibility clothing to make it appear as if they were doing construction or landscaping work.

Panameno and Noviteno were identified as suspects in May. Investigators also identified several suspect vehicles, including a white Ford Transit van. On June 7, CMPD tracked the white van to a location on Tribune Drive, which is just off Moores Chapel Road and Interstate 485. Officers saw the suspects break into a home and arrested them. Caicedo-Delgado was identified as the van's driver.

Investigators executed a search warrant on a home on Walkers Cove Trail that was linked to the suspects. During the search, officers seized approximately $130,000 worth of stolen luxury handbags, jewelry and watches. They also seized items used in the burglaries and more than $12,000 in cash.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Anyone who has been a victim of a burglary is asked to call 911. Witnesses can also call 704-432-TIPS to speak directly with investigators.

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