A group of suspects who installed hidden cameras around homes in an attempt to commit home invasion burglaries have been arrested in LA Koreatown.
The arrest is the latest in a series of break-in burglaries across Southern California, including Orange and Riverside counties, and the fact that they were arrested in LA Koreatown raises the possibility that the hidden cameras may have been installed in Koreatown and the neighboring areas in Los Angeles as well.
On September 3, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) raided a home at 5th and Catalina Streets in Koreatown and arrested three men – 28-year-old Hames Lopez-Granados, 38-year-old Dany Alejandro Aponte-Abaunza, and 27-year-old Jonathan Sierra-Rincon – on conspiracy and robbery charges. A fourth suspect is currently on the run, according to authorities.
They were also found to have installed hidden cameras around a home in Temecula in May. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said it launched an extensive investigation after finding cameras hidden in the home wrapped in black insulation tape.
Authorities analyzed surveillance footage from inside the home and found two masked men exiting a Toyota minivan, setting up the cameras in the front yard of the home, and driving away.
“Investigators worked with local police and the FBI to conduct an extensive investigation to track down the suspects who installed the devices,” said the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. “The investigation led to the identification of four suspects who placed the hidden cameras with the intent to commit break-in burglaries.”
The suspects’ operation method was sophisticated and organized. Lead Investigator Angel Gasparini said, “They purchased devices at different locations and different stores under aliases and paid with cash.”
That same month, the Glendale Police Department arrested four Colombian nationals on suspicion of burglary and other charges for using undercover cameras to conduct “burglary tourism”. Their hidden cameras were found in the bushes of a Garden Grove home.
Experts warn that burglars are increasingly using hidden cameras to monitor their targets. “Pre-installed hidden cameras can tell when a homeowner is away or if there is a security system in the home,” said security analyst Gene Petrino, a former SWAT commander. “The problem is that they are inexpensive and readily available,” he said.
Petrino emphasized the importance of having a security system in your home. “Most criminals avoid homes with security systems,” he said, adding that ”security systems, especially those that notify homeowners of break-ins in real time, are a great deterrent.”
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
