Group of Chilean men charged over more than 17 robberies in Sydney

Four Chilean men are accused of a string of jewellery heists across Sydney. Photo / AAP file

Four Chilean men accused of a string of jewellery heists across Sydney will be hauled before court as police hunt for more offenders.

The men - aged 23, 30, 43 and 52 - are due in Liverpool Local Court charged over more than 17 robberies committed in the past two months.

"The group use planned distraction techniques to effect the stealing ... including telling the victims they have a flat tyre ... deliberately bumping into the victims and spilling drinks on them ... engaging their victims in conversation or asking for directions," Detective Superintendent Murray Chapman told reporters.

The bandits used earpieces and wore hats and glasses to disguise their identities and are believed to have netted A$600,000 in cash and jewels.

They're accused of staking out banks and jewellery stores to find victims carrying cash and valuables.

"They certainly would fall into the confidence trickster category, having said that, they're also cowards, they're preying on elderly people, on vulnerable people," Chapman said.

AAP understands the syndicate also hit a large jewellery fair in Sydney where they were caught on camera before fleeing with a large amount of jewellery.

Four men were arrested at Sydney airport on Saturday. Two were pulled off a plane bound for Santiago, Chile, at the last minute. They are believed to have been in Australia on tourist or student visas.

NSW police have alerted other states about the sting, saying the method was nothing new. "It's not unique to Sydney, Australia, there's open source material suggesting these sort of offences occurred overseas, in Toronto in Canada a similar group were arrested with the same MO and techniques," Chapman said.

Investigators have released security footage as they search for more offenders. Police are urging the public to remain vigilant, especially those who have just completed banking transactions or are in possession of cash or jewellery.

- AAP