Watch CBS News

'Hidden Cash' Man Plants 'Epic' Scavenger Hunt At Hermosa Beach

HERMOSA BEACH (CBSLA.com) — The anonymous millionaire who's delighted Southland residents with his hidden cash drops struck again Saturday morning, this time creating a scavenger hunt at Hermosa Beach.

The generous individual, who posts hints about the locations under the Twitter handle @HiddenCash, stuffed bills into 36 Angry Bird figurines between the pier and the volleyball nets.

He began sending out tweets Friday night announcing a beach scavenger hunt of "epic" proportions.

The exact location was released in a tweet around 11:40 a.m. Saturday. In true L.A. fashion, traffic had apparently delayed his plans but he said he still managed to bury all the figurines, undetected, near the Hermosa Beach pier.

A crowd quickly pounced on the spot, as adults joined kids in digging up sand for buried treasure.

Beach-goer Brittany Rogy tweeted a shot of a man and a boy who got really invested in the search.

For the time being, it appears this will be "Hidden Cash" man's last drop in L.A.

One rumor centered attention on Mother's Beach at Marina Del Rey.

"We've advised the troops what's going on, but we're not taking major precautions," said a watch sergeant at the nearby sheriff's station.

Manhattan Beach and Malibu police said they hadn't heard any reports of the drops having been made in their vicinity.

The hidden cash phenomena started in San Francisco and moved to the Southland Thursday, vexing police while exciting the public. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people converged on the Empire Center in Burbank Thursday night after the man left hints on the social media site directing people to the area.

Bills have also been found in Pasadena and Echo Park.

The cash amounts have ranged from tens to hundreds of dollars.

@HiddenCash told KNX 1070 he shares concerns about public safety, but police are nonetheless worried that some people might go overboard and endanger themselves and others while making a dash for the cash.

The Los Angeles Police Department is monitoring social media to keep a handle on potential problems and where they might arise, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison.

"All of our divisions are aware of the potential that a mass influx of people can raise safety issues," he said, citing problems such as people walking in the street, running into traffic or driving too fast as they rush to be first at a cash drop.

Police are urging the public to take safety precautions, obey traffic laws and to not fight over cash.

RELATED STORIES:

'Hidden Cash' Man Makes More Money Drops, Shares Reason For Generosity

'Hidden Cash' Man Sparks Frenzy In Burbank With Second Day Of Money Drops

CBS2/KCAL9 Captures Mystery 'Hidden Cash' Man Making Money Drop In LA

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.