Oxford burglary probe leads to multistate hunt for stolen jewelry

More than $140,000 in jewelry stolen from a St. Andrews Road home in Oxford sent investigators from Lafayette County into a multistate chase that ended with two arrests and a growing pile of recovered property. Oxford police said the case, which began at the house on May 16, widened as cameras, license-plate readers and outside agencies helped trace a suspicious vehicle across state lines.

Investigators responded to the burglary scene on St. Andrews Road and found footprints and a partial fingerprint, then pulled surveillance video from the area. That video showed multiple people getting into a nearby vehicle that did not belong to anyone in the neighborhood, and officers used traffic cameras and tag readers to follow it. Police said the car first drew attention because it came into town with one license plate and later was tied to another, a detail that helped push the investigation beyond Oxford.

From there, the trail stretched into Alabama and then farther into Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. Law enforcement help also came from as far away as Chicago, according to reporting on the case. Oxford investigators ultimately tracked the vehicle to Missouri and directed the Missouri Highway Patrol to it, where officers stopped it and a foot pursuit followed.

Police arrested Fabian Ignacio Navarro-Aliaga, 27, and Marcelo Alejandro Telechea-Droguett, 36, both of Chile. Oxford police charged both men with burglary, forced entry, and federal charges were also filed. Authorities placed immigration detainers on both men.

Recovered property included jewelry, firearms and other stolen items. Police said the items are still being identified by owners as investigators sort out what was taken in Oxford and what may connect to other burglaries in other states. Reporting on the case said officers believe multiple people were involved, and neighbors had flagged the vehicle as suspicious before the arrests.

The case showed how a burglary in Lafayette County can quickly become a far larger investigation when modern surveillance tools, automated plate readers and interstate coordination are brought to bear. Oxford police have said the recovered property is still being matched to victims, and additional charges remain possible as the case moves through several jurisdictions.