Alhambra police are warning residents to be on the lookout after a hidden camera was discovered outside following an attempted burglary on Monday.
Neighbors discovered a hidden camera in the bushes pointing to the targeted home in the 1900 block of S. Primrose Ave. just hours after the victims’ alarm company notified them of an attempt to open the kitchen window.
Police warn that camouflage cameras, covered with leaves, hidden in bushes or otherwise blending in with where they are placed, are becoming a common tactic in home burglaries.
The cameras are strategically placed so thieves can monitor homeowners’ daily routines so they can plan the opportune time to break in. Police do not know who installed the Alhambra camera or how long it has been there.
Similar spy cameras have been discovered in recent weeks in Temecula, Chino Hills, Glendale, Calabasas and Garden Grove.
Homeowners in Temecula discovered a fake plant, planted in their garden, with a hidden camera in it. A Homeowner of Agoura Hills found a hidden camera in a flowerbed outside their house, and in Chino Hills, a camera designed to resemble a rock, placed outside a house, was found by a neighbor.
Other police officers responding to discoveries of hidden cameras say they believe organized crime groups from South America are planting the cameras. They are known to monitor neighborhoods, and camera technology aids their crime planning.
The police provide some burglary prevention tips:
- Good lighting is the best deterrent to crime. Make sure your porch is well lit.
- Keep trees and shrubs well pruned to prevent hiding places.
- Install home security cameras and monitor them regularly.
