A whistleblower has come forward with claims of a crime ring using tunnels in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area to hide stolen vehicles. According to the whistleblower, who spoke exclusively to FOX 11, the criminals use a tunnel along the Rio Hondo as a garage, concealing vehicles under three feet of soil to block GPS signals.
The whistleblower, who wishes to remain anonymous, estimates the main tunnel stretches nine to ten miles and has smaller offshoots. He claims the vehicles are later moved to a nearby location to be stripped for parts. “They are their own band of brothers, their own group, which they work with each other to barter and trade stolen goods,” the whistleblower said.
Despite these claims, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated that no organized crime ring has been identified in the area. However, the department acknowledges ongoing criminal activity and has recovered stolen vehicles in the past. The land, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been a gathering place for unhoused individuals, leading to repeated law enforcement calls.
The Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with city and county officials, is conducting cleanup operations and providing social services to those in need. The efforts aim to restore the land and ensure public safety. The whistleblower hopes for measures to prevent further use of the tunnels by thieves.
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