Burglars in California are increasingly using cleverly disguised hidden cameras to find homes to burgle, part of an alarming trend known as “burglary tourism.”
The latest case occurred last week in the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra, where residents discovered a tiny camera cleverly hidden among leaves in bushes outside a home.
“The victim’s neighbor discovered a hidden camera in the bushes pointed at her home,” the Alhambra Police Department said on Facebook.[The victim’s] The alarm company also reported there had been an attempt to open a kitchen window earlier in the day.
“Unfortunately, camouflage cameras are a common tactic used in residential burglaries,” police said. “These cameras are strategically placed in bushes or other inconspicuous locations to allow burglars to gather information about homeowners’ daily lives before gaining entry.”
And this wasn’t the first time someone had stumbled upon the device.
In May, Glendale police arrested four Colombian nationals who allegedly ran a “stolen travel” scam using fake cameras, KTLA-TV reported.
Police spotted the vehicle driving with its headlights off, found video surveillance equipment including a charging system covered in leaves, and arrested the occupants, according to the outlet.
A few days later, another small camera was discovered hidden outside a home in Garden Cove.
Alhambra police offered residents some tips on how to thwart high-tech thieves, including how to turn the tables by installing your own security cameras to keep an eye on your surroundings.
Police warned homeowners not to leave keys hidden outside, to keep all windows and doors locked and to make sure front porches and areas around the home are well lit.
And of course, keeping bushes neatly trimmed gives thieves fewer places to hide cameras, police said.
