Update from CyberWatch

10/10/25

Hi folks,

It’s been a hectic few weeks here in South Shores. 

Until now, very few home burglaries.  During Covid and following years more of us were at home. The  bad guys were discouraged from breaking in and taking our stuff.

Then, last month, the unexpected happened. An international crime group, SATG for South American Theft Group has been hitting South Shores hard.  

Here are the facts: 

• Members of SATG from Mexico, Columbia and Chile have been hitting many major U. S. cities.
• They’re thoroughly trained high stakes burglars, backed by organized crime.  
• Break-ins occur when folks are away from home.
• Backed by organized crime, SATG has broken into high net worth homes and stolen large safes containing jewelry and other valuables.

SATG’S METHOD OF OPERATION

• Experienced professionals use advanced hi-tech electronic equipment.  More than one vehicle used in theft.
• They place miniature video cameras in the shrubbery of the victim’s property and remotely monitor the comings and goings of the home’s occupants.  Sometimes for weeks before breaking in.
• They use “wi-fi jammers” to disable all the electronics in a home.  They also disable all the power to the home just before they strike. In every break-in so far, a 300 lb, 5 foot safe was stolen.

 BREAK-INS FROM SEPTEMBER 10 TO NOW

• September 10 – 1600 block of West 9th Street… 8:40 a.m.  (Just across the street from Upper South Shores…a stone’s throw from Western Ave)
• September 13 – 1600 block of Morse Drive…9:30 p.m. Upper South Shores.
• September 19 – 2500 block of Gunnell Avenue…7:33 p.m. Lower South Shores.
• October 7 – 2500 block of Anabas Avenue…around 9:40 p.m. Upper South Shores.

YESTERDAY’S EMAIL FROM LAPD’S DETECTIVE THOMAS BARAN we just received this email from LAPD Burglary Division Detective Tom Baran, our valued CyberWatch partner since 2013:

“Hi Bob

This is bad.  South Shores just suffered another residential burglary.  Anabas Ave.  Victims were out of town.  Power cut.  Jammers used  Large safe taken, high dollar loss.  Possibly a white SUV and dark sedan, same as the Gunnell burglary.

We go back a long ways and took down many burglary crews, but nothing has been this difficult or extreme. The things we’re doing on our end don’t compare to the eyes and ears of the community.We really need everyone alert and watching.

We’re looking for a white SUV…most likely a Nissan Rogue riding in tandem with a dark colored grayish 4 door sedan.  It looks like an older Lexus ES model.  They aren’t bothering to hide.  They are fully gloved, masked and hooded. They jump gates in the community, smashing doors and carrying out 300 pound 5 foot safes.”
Please get the word out to CyberWatch and other South Shores residents. If you see something…say something.  We badly need South Shores’ help with this one

Thanks, Bob.
Tom

FOLKS, HERE’S WHAT WE CAN DO NOW.

If you spot these guys (see attached photos) with their neon vests or any other suspicious activity possibly connected to these break-ins:  

1. Call 911 immediately and report what you’ve seen.  Dispatchers have been directed to respond immediately to sightings of these suspects.
2.  Email Detective Tom Baran at  36364@lapd.online. Describe your observations.3.  Email a copy of your report to  bob@cyberwatch22.org.  This will trigger CyberWatch’s follow up of the investigation and keep you in the loop.

Thanks, folks.  With enough eyes and ears open, we can stop this wave in its tracks.  We’ve done it before…several times.   We can do it again! It’s up to every one of us.

Thanks, folks,
Bob