Cerritos residents were urged to stay sharp on Tuesday after deputies recovered a small surveillance camera that had been hidden in the landscaping outside a home. The tiny device was tucked into greenery, and deputies say it is part of a troubling trend across Los Angeles County, where thieves are experimenting with new ways to quietly scope out homes before breaking in.
According to KTLA, the camera in Cerritos was found among shrubs on the 12500 block of Summerwind Street. Deputies say similar gadgets have been discovered in bushes and attached to poles in other parts of the city, and they are asking residents to stay alert and call in anything that looks even slightly off.
Investigators believe burglars are planting these small, camouflaged cameras so they can quietly track residents’ routines and pinpoint the best time to hit when a house is empty. A recent report from Fox News detailed how some hidden devices have been hooked to power banks or Wi‑Fi hubs so thieves can watch live video feeds from a distance.
A pattern across the Southland
The Cerritos discovery is not an isolated oddity. It mirrors a series of similar cases across the Southland. In Torrance, police arrested two people this winter after investigators said suspects were allegedly setting up hidden cameras to survey homes, as reported in Torrance police nab two suspects allegedly setting up hidden cameras for burglaries. Local TV outlets have also covered reports of disguised cameras turning up in West Covina, Chino Hills, and Palos Verdes.
How to spot and respond
If you notice an unfamiliar gadget tucked into your landscaping, wedged near your front steps, or posted close to an entryway, authorities say do not touch it. Instead, call the Cerritos Sheriff's Station non‑emergency line at (562) 860‑0044, as advised by the City of Cerritos.
Residents are also encouraged to review their own home‑security footage for overnight activity, pay attention to unfamiliar cars slowly circling the block, and take note of any unknown individuals repeatedly ringing doorbells or leaving packages. Behavior that seems minor on its own could still be worth flagging for deputies if it appears persistent or coordinated.
Legal consequences
Secretly placing a camera where someone reasonably expects privacy can run afoul of California’s video‑voyeurism and invasion‑of‑privacy laws. Under California Penal Code §647(j), certain hidden‑camera offenses can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the details of the conduct and circumstances.
The Cerritos Sheriff's Station is urging neighbors to look out for one another and, in their words, to "stay alert and help keep your community safe" by reporting any suspicious items or behavior to deputies, as KTLA reported. If you spot a device, officials suggest snapping a photo from a safe distance without moving it so deputies can handle the evidence properly when they arrive.
