Palos Verdes Estates May Be Latest South Bay City Targeted By Organized Crime Group

PALOS VERDES, CA — Police in the Palos Verdes Estates say they are investigating after a resident found a hidden camera in his front yard earlier this month.

The camera was found hidden in the bushes of a home along Via Margarita on Aug. 1, according to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.

The camera, which is plugged into a battery pack, fits the MO of South American Theft Groups, according to police. These organized crime groups hide these cameras near homes to case them and act when they're most vulnerable, according to authorities.

"Our detectives are actively investigating this case in order to identify those responsible for hiding this camera," the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department said in a statement on social media Thursday. "We’re asking all residents to stay alert. If you find any suspicious items or hidden pouches on your property, please contact us immediately."

Torrance police announced in late July that it was seeing an uptick in home burglaries linked to the South American Theft Groups.

South American Theft Groups are organized crime rings that have been around for several decades. They're made up of foreign nationals who target expensive homes using a combination of internet research, surveillance and commercially available camera and tracking technologies to scope out their targets, according to the FBI.

They then use other connections to sell the items or send the loot back to their native country, according to the FBI.