Logan “Chucky” Dulien, a prominent surf filmmaker, has helped dismantle a criminal syndicate operating in Southern California after being targeted in a series of sophisticated car break-ins aimed at surfers.
The crime, which involves thieves watching surfers as they stash their car keys while heading to the water, escalated when Dulien became a victim of the operation. Known for his work on the Snapt surf film franchise, Dulien was recently in Newport Beach for a quick surf session, unaware that criminals were tracking his every move. After he left his car unattended, the thieves broke in, stole his phone and wallet, and drained more than $150,000 from his bank accounts using a series of sophisticated tactics.
“They got me, and then I wanted to get them back,” Dulien shared in a recent interview with Anderson Cooper. “I don’t give a fuck who this is, I’m going to do everything I can to make them pay.”
Dulien’s story quickly gained traction on social media, prompting an outpouring of similar complaints from other surfers who had fallen victim to the same crime ring, spanning from Los Angeles to Orange County. The surf community, united by their shared experiences, decided to take action.
A neighbor of Dulien’s set up surveillance cameras near his home, and together with other surfers, they launched a sting operation. The results were damning. Security footage caught the thieves red-handed, showing them breaking into Dulien’s car, stealing his belongings, and even handing off his phone. The operation revealed that the mastermind behind the scheme was nearby, just a block away.
With the evidence in hand, Dulien confronted his bank, using the footage to prove that fraudulent purchases, including luxury items, had been made with his stolen cards. The authorities were able to track down the criminals, thanks to the collaboration of the surfing community.
“The surf community is one tribe. Everyone doesn’t get along, but at the end of the day, if someone is drowning, we’re gonna do whatever we can to save them,” Dulien concluded, reflecting on how the community came together to fight back against the crime ring.
In the end, the thieves were apprehended, and Dulien’s persistence not only led to the recovery of stolen funds but also helped bring down a network of criminals preying on unsuspecting surfers across the region.