The Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) gave a presentation on South American theft groups at a Health and Safety Commission meeting on Sept. 23. By educating the community about what to look out for and what measures they can take to prevent burglaries on their properties, BHPD hopes to crack down on the recent rise in theft.
In August, two South American nationals were charged in a federal court for stealing a $1 million watch off the wrist of a man at the BLVD restaurant at the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel. They were identified as “crime tourists” from Colombia and Venezuela. These theft groups come from several nations in South America and have stumped police officers across the United States because of their transitional nature, as BHPD Sergeant David Dimond explained. In Southern California, most of the groups come from Chile, Colombia and Venezuela. These groups typically consist of three to five individuals at a time and appear loosely organized, which makes it difficult for police to track them. They use cold plates from local car dealers who work with them, so they’re impossible to track by vehicle, and once the police get close to catching them, they flee to another county or state. There are no identifiable characteristics of these groups such as clothing or tattoos, but BHPD has gathered some common things to look out for.
In Beverly Hills, the most common crimes by these groups include pickpocketing and identity theft, vehicle burglary, organized retail crime, commercial burglary, residential burglary and jewelry heists. As Sgt. Dimond explained, pickpocketing most commonly occurs at restaurants, when a purse is left unattended. It’s less common for a burglar to take an entire purse, so it’s important to keep bags zipped or locked if possible. Most importantly, residents should be vigilant at all times. These groups often work together to distract a victim on one side of a vehicle while someone steals items through a door or window on the other side. Sgt. Dimond urged residents to look out for vehicles following them as well.
These theft groups often use female drivers or lookouts who seem less suspicious, so residents need to be aware of their surroundings. Members have been seen wearing athletic leisure clothing that makes it easy for them to climb walls or buildings, backpacks and medical face masks.
To avoid residential theft, Sgt. Dimond reminded the commission that Beverly Hills has a “no call too small” policy, and that residents should always trust their gut feeling if something feels off. Too often, he explained, a home alarm goes off while a resident is at dinner and that person dismisses the alert as a false alarm, assuming their pet triggered it, or an expected guest, and then they return home to find that they have been burglarized. He urged people to always send responders to their properties, even if it may be a false alarm. Other measures people can take to protect their homes include bolting safes to the ground, putting an air tag inside safes so that the police can track them before burglars crack them open, and not keeping safes in the master bedroom. It’s also important that residents avoid making their houses look vacant, especially when they’re on vacation. He suggested setting timers for lights to go on and off and having a trusted neighbor collect the mail.
BHPD Captain Max Subin provided a report on crime in the month of August. Residential theft increased by 67% with 10 reported burglaries as opposed to six in July. Police responded to 13 residential burglaries from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15. There was also a 48% increase in theft from motor vehicles from July to August and a 73% increase in petty theft.
In the coming months, BHPD is preparing for any crime that may arise regarding the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks and the election in November. “Oct. 7 is going to be a very challenging time, not for any intelligence that we know—there’s nothing that we know; nothing is happening— but it’s about being diligent,” said Subin. “It’s a tough time because it’s emotionally charged, but I also want everyone to remain diligent,” As he explained, residents need to be aware of their surroundings when they park their cars and enter their homes. Those who would like to reach out for a security assessment of their home or business can reach out to bfair@beverlyhills.org or aguvlekjian@beverlyhills.org.
