Residents in the Alhambra area are on alert after several hidden cameras were discovered pointing at homes in what police believe is a tactic by thieves to conduct residential burglaries. According to a report from NBC Los Angeles, a homeowner in Alhambra received a notification from their home security system about an attempted break-in through a kitchen window on the same day that a hidden camera was uncovered.
The concealed camera, found by a neighbor in the bushes of the 1900 block of South Primrose Avenue, was reportedly aimed at the targeted house. "Unfortunately, camouflage cameras are a tactic being used in residential burglaries," Alhambra Police stated, emphasizing that intruders place these devices strategically to monitor homeowners' movements. Earlier reports from areas including Garden Grove, Glendale, Chino Hills, and others across Southern California, suggest an increasing trend in such surveillance by potential burglars.
KTLA echoed the concerns, highlighting a recent arrest in May where, Glendale Police took into custody four suspects accused of a "burglary tourism" scheme involving these hidden cameras. With the mounting number of camera findings and burglary attempts, law enforcement agencies are urging the community to take preventative steps and remain vigilant.
Alhambra Police are offering safety recommendations to homeowners, including removing hidden keys, reporting suspicious vehicles, ensuring doors and windows are locked, maintaining well-lit exteriors, trimming trees and bushes, installing home security cameras, and refraining from entering a home if they suspect a break-in. "If you spot a suspicious vehicle, write down the license plate and report it," the department advised, though it's essential that people regularly check their property for any unfamiliar objects or shifts in their yard's appearance that could denote a hidden device.
This series of security breaches raises considerable unease among homeowners, prompting law enforcement to encourage proactive measures. By keeping an eagle eye out for hidden cameras and adopting the suggested security practices, community members can better protect their homes from becoming another statistic in this unsettling wave of privacy invasions and property crimes.
