Belmont Shore residents should be nervous, police say, because a new breed of gang member is emerging, one that does not mind playing well with others to victimize everyone.

“Detectives are seeing a trend in robberies throughout the Southern California area, where gang members from both allied gangs and rival gangs are teaming up with the sole purpose of committing lucrative crimes.  Detectives identified approximately 19 suspects that were associated with (five) different Asian gangs,” according to a press release issued by Chief Jim McDonnell.

Though McDonnell said that none of the 17 gang members arrested today in a massive search warrant, parole and probation sweep is accused of targeting Belmont Shore, the new ways these gangs are operating leaves no one safe.

 “Belmont Shore is not primarily affected. But anything that affects one part of Long Beach or the region, affects every other.

“These gangs know no borders. They will go wherever they feel is (the) opportunity to do what they want to do, which is to make money at the expense of others.

"It’s unusual to see gangs involved in such widespread criminal activity … It’s unusual to see the level of specialization. We have rival gangs coming together for the purpose of the criminal enterprise.”

In a news conference this afternoon at the Long Beach police station, McDonnell displayed a myriad of items stolen from Long Beach and Orange County residents.

The booty included Movado and Rolex watches, guns, cash, narcotics, laptops, tires and rims.

The seizures were made following a search warrant, probation and parole sweep at 47 locations, during which 17 Asian gang members were arrested, according to Long Beach police.

In addition to drug-related offenses, booking charges on the suspects included elder abuse, forgery-fraud and identity theft, McDonnell said.

Anyone with additional information regarding these crimes is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Gang Enforcement Detectives Jason Garcia or Detective George Ayala at 562-570-7370.