A prolific auto theft crime ring has reportedly targeted Spanish-speaking individuals in Southern California. According to a recent Irvine Police Department Facebook post, over the past year, victims' vehicles were either carjacked or stolen under the ruse of high-paying job opportunities posted on Facebook.
The victims were primarily lured by the offer of driving cash to Bakersfield for sizable compensation, reaching as high as $12,000. Unfortunately, these individuals were instead subjected to carjackings at gunpoint or threats of violence for control of their cars. The Irvine Police Department has urged vigilance when responding to such advertisements and encouraged immediate reports of any victimization.
Investigations have shown that most of the stolen vehicles were transported to Mexico. The culprits notably targeted Spanish-speaking victims, indicating an alarming trend of ethnic and language-based crime that continues to persist to this day.
