Suspect Identified in High-Value Home Burglary in Munster From December
A man suspected of being involved in burglary in Munster has been formally charged following a multi-agency investigation that tracked him across multiple states and linked him to a suspected international theft ring.
According to court documents filed, authorities have charged Cristian Hernan Pirajan Rivera in connection with a December 16, 2024, residential burglary. The incident occurred at a home on the 9800 block of Rose Lane, where more than $50,000 in jewelry and valuables were reported stolen.
Detectives with the Munster Police Department, working with investigators from Turo Inc., Homeland Security, and South Carolina authorities, were able to identify Rivera after a complex investigation involving surveillance footage, license plate readers, rental car data, and GPS tracking.
The suspect allegedly entered the home alongside two accomplices, all wearing facial coverings, and fled in a silver Mitsubishi SUV. The vehicle, registered in Illinois and rented via the Turo app, was traced back to Rivera, who had used falsified identification to secure the rental.
Footage from a hunting camera inside the home captured an unmasked image of one suspect, which was later matched through facial recognition to Rivera. Further evidence, including GPS data and cell phone records, placed him at the scene of the crime.
Rivera was taken into custody in South Carolina along with two other men. Authorities believe the group may be connected to a South American theft ring suspected in a series of similar high-dollar burglaries across the United States.
The case remains under investigation, and officials have not released details regarding additional charges.
