Ominous “HELP” messages carved onto debris in Los Angeles have raised alarm among social media users. Zoomed in Google Maps satellite images of a rail yard off of the San Bernardino Freeway reveal messages that read “HELP” and “TRAFICO,” which means “traffic” in Spanish.

After the department responded to an 'unknown trouble' call near Mission Road and the 101 Freeway on Sunday (26 January), a spokesperson said: "Upon arrival, officers conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence of any criminal activity or threat in the area."