Neighbors are speaking out after uncovering the latest development in a criminal trend that’s been hitting cities all around Southern California: hidden cameras.
In a very disconcerting discovery, the daughter of an Encino couple – who wants to remain anonymous for their safety – found a hidden camera in the bushes outside of their home on Saturday.
The family never thought this would happen to them, and it’s a story that’s been seen in other neighborhoods too – including one as recently as Mar. 2 in Chino Hills.
Now, the family and other concerned neighbors are spreading the word to warn others about the importance of checking their bushes, trees and around their homes.
The daughter told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff that she was taking her kids to visit her mom when something caught her eye in a tree planted out front of the home.
She walked closer to the tree, finding a small camera attached to green wires that led under the bushes.
After speaking with her mom and learning that the camera did not belong to her, she said she put on gloves and removed the camera, discovering a second device nearby that the family believes could be a hard drive.
“We’re all shaken and we couldn’t believe that they are watching my parents’ activity here, and God knows how long it’s been there and they didn’t even notice,” said the daughter.
Experts said it was most likely a cheap camera with a SIM card, and that criminals often come back to retrieve it and analyze a person’s habits and patterns.
“They want to see probably when my parents are not home, the car is getting out of the garage, basically they see if you’re not here, that’s a good opportunity for them to come and break in,” said the daughter.
These make-shift, “hidden,” cameras have also been spotted in Temecula, Arcadia and Santa Barbara County.
“The crooks are tipping their hands because they’re showing us what they’re looking for,” said Don Moore, a Certified Protection Professional. “They’re surveilling our homes because they want to find out when we’re coming and going. They’re also using drones to look in the back of homes to see if you left a door open on the second floor patio. They want to break into your house when you’re not there.”
In Encino, neighbors removed the suspicious devices and reached out to police.
The Los Angeles Police Department told this couple that any time someone finds one of these devices, do not hesitate to call 911 – that it’s that serious of a matter.
