Police in L.A.’s South Bay region are advising local residents of a spike in residential burglaries that may be perpetrated by South America-based organized theft groups who use hidden cameras and other technology to stake out victims.
Photos released by the Torrance Police Department show crudely-designed hidden cameras made from pieces of fake grass and powered by external battery packs. The cameras are placed outside the homes of potential victims so that thieves can track their movements and determine the best time to strike: when they are not home.
Some of the incidents, however, do occur when people are there, such as one where residents – who had just returned to the home unexpectedly – chased away a trio of thieves in the 2200 block of Torrance Boulevard on Saturday.
“[My mother and I] started following them – my mom started chasing so I started chasing right behind her – and they ran away to the getaway car [with a] fake license plate,” said burglary victim Jose Sanchez.
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According to law enforcement, the suspects had been peeking into windows and knocking on the door of the home before forcefully entering. They are believed to have escaped with several stolen items, including a handgun, the Torrance Police Department stated in a news release, and Sanchez said they also got away with a piggy bank.
The Torrance Police Department is encouraging those who live in the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, such as unknown people or vehicles loitering in neighborhoods, to them right away.
Some of the suspects may be tied to organized theft groups based in South America; while officials have not established a concrete connection between the groups and Saturday’s burglary, they haven’t ruled out the possibility.
Authorities have previously warned that such groups come to SoCal for “burglary tourism” – a term referring to when someone comes to America to steal items and then return back to their native country. They aren’t always successful; in April, $4 million in cargo stolen by a South American theft group, including tequila and Bitcoin mining computers, was recovered in Los Angeles.
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