Dozens Of Phones Stolen From SoCal Music Fest Found Dumped Next To Freeway: CHP

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities are searching for the owners of a cache of 40 iPhones found next to a freeway ramp in East Los Angeles that they believe were stolen from a New Year's Eve music festival in San Bernardino.

A California Highway Patrol officer recently spotted the phones while on patrol in East LA, the CHP wrote in a social media post. The phones appear to have been dumped in a pile along the freeway ramp, based on a photo provided by authorities.

As part of their investigation, CHP officers said they determined that several of the phones owners' had attended Countdown NYE, an electronic music festival that was held at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino Dec. 30-31.

"Several owners were able to ping their phone and pick them up from our office. If you attended the event and feel we may have your phone, ping your phone," the CHP wrote.

If the last location of the phone is listed as the CHP office at 1601 Corporate Center Dr. in Monterey Park, phone owners are instructed to call 323-980-4600 and ask for the evidence and property officer.

Mass phone theft has been a problem at music festivals for years, as authorities have caught thieves in possession of dozens of phones at events including Coachella and those produced by Insomniac, the promoter behind Countdown and other electronic music events at the Nos Center.