Southern California police have warned that burglaries taking place in a small community may have happened with the aid of a drone.
The Santa Clarita Valley Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that “preliminary reports suggested” a drone may have been used in a series of three burglaries committed in Stevenson Ranch—a community of around 20,000 that is about 35 miles north of Los Angeles.
The burglaries took place over one week. While it was unclear whether the suspected drone use was detected by witnesses spotting a drone near the burglary sites, police said an investigation had revealed “promising leads” provided by locals.
“Thanks to active community cooperation, promising leads have been identified and are under investigation,” a news release from the Santa Clarita Valley station said. “Detectives are diligently working to resolve these cases and bring those responsible to justice.
“We urge all residents across the Santa Clarita Valley to take proactive steps to secure their homes and report any suspicious activity immediately,” the release continued. “If you see something concerning, please call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-260-4000.”
Newsweek reached out Tuesday for comment to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department via an online press contact form.
The incidents in California were not the only recent burglaries involving suspected drone use. Last week, the NBA warned that professional basketball players were being targeted in a string of recent burglaries committed with the assistance of drones.
In a memo sent to NBA team officials last week and obtained by the Associated Press, the FBI said the burglaries were connected to “transnational South American Theft Groups” using drones and other types of technology to target the players.
“These [South American Theft Groups] are reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices,” the memo states.
The memo goes on to say that the theft groups were “primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches, and luxury bags,” while the homes targeted were mostly unoccupied and “equipped with alarm systems that were not activated.”
Earlier this month, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that residents of the beachside community La Jolla Shores believed drones had been used in the area for more than a year to scout homes that were later targeted by burglars.
While multiple residents reported seeing drones flying over houses before they were burglarized, San Diego police Lieutenant Bryan Brecht told the newspaper that the drones in question were “hobby drones” and that it would be difficult to definitely tie them to any crimes.
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