Police find “real-life GTA” hideout beneath California city

Los Angeles authorities have uncovered an extraordinary underground hideout filled with stolen cars. Thieves had been driving the vehicles into a disused tunnel system originally built for managing the San Gabriel River’s water flow – a setup that made the cars virtually impossible to trace, even those equipped with GPS trackers. The reinforced concrete structure shielded the vehicles from both police detection and satellite tracking.

The tunnel was part of the Whittier Narrows project in Montebello, California, a military-designed system created decades ago to control the river’s flow. Over time, it fell into disuse. Its size and accessibility, however, made it the perfect cover for a criminal operation that went unnoticed for years.

A GTA-style hideout beneath Los Angeles

Two brothers from the area turned the tunnel into an underground chop shop. Every stolen car was taken down there, dismantled, and sold off piece by piece on the black market. The scheme went smoothly until one theft finally exposed them.

The operation unraveled when one of the brothers stole a luxury vehicle and was tracked by police after the owner filed a report. Street surveillance footage and a police helicopter led officers directly to the tunnel’s entrance.

Once inside, officers were stunned by the scale of the underground complex and the sheer number of vehicles stored within. The discovery brought the brothers’ operation to an end and highlighted how neglected public infrastructure can easily become a haven for criminal activity if left unchecked.

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