Typically, a Google Earth search will be to look at your university friend’s house or to figure out which weird pub you walked into the previous night.
However, one region has generated much alarm online, as users have discovered odd ‘help’ signs.
A vacant lot in downtown Los Angeles has become popular after a screenshot was posted on X in recent days.
Google Earth photographs reveal the words ‘HELP,’ ‘trafico,’ and ‘LAPD’ scribbled on the ground.
With millions of views, conspiracy theories quickly emerged about what was going on there, and locals were keen to supply an answer.
Despite widespread alarm on social media over the disturbing image, authorities have been unable to identify any crimes linked to the ‘help’ messages.
On Sunday morning (January 26), a Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) spokeswoman stated that officers responded to an ‘unknown issue’ call between the 101 Freeway and Mission Road.
“Upon arrival, officers conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence of any criminal activity or threat in the area,” according to a statement provided to The LA Times. Officers also claimed that the messages seen on Google Earth were from 2023 and that they had informed Union Pacific Railroad.
However, local news station KTLA dispatched a helicopter team for a news broadcast on Monday (29 January), discovering the words were still on the ground.
So, as was expected with such a big notion online, one individual stated that they went to the neighborhood and discovered a bunch of homeless people.
Has anyone figured out what is happening in LA with these HELP signs, keep hearing tons of different story’s seems very concerning?@FBI looking into this? pic.twitter.com/n8t17bW8oH
— LJT (@FormYtp) January 26, 2025
X user ‘LAguy310’ chatted with folks there and stated, “OK, so apparently Jose is writing all the HELP signs.” They reported that a homeless man had been penning these ominous inscriptions in the soil for many years.
The official LAPD Central Division account replied by shutting down the conspiracy rumors that were circulating.
“We’ve had multiple encounters with the person you’re talking about. “He has refused housing and a mental health evaluation,” it stated.
“There is no indication of human trafficking. He has been in this area for a few years.”
Union Pacific also confirmed this in a statement to LADbible, explaining that “a guy trespassed on Union Pacific and other surrounding sites to continually generate these deceptive statements.
“We do know that the individual who creates these does so on neighboring properties as well.”
The corporation also stated that there was no evidence to suggest anyone was at risk.