San José police warn that burglars have been using camouflaged cameras placed outside homes to monitor activity before burglaries. Officers recovered one device attached to a power bank in bushes and later found a second device believed to be Wi‑Fi powered. Authorities say this may be part of a broader pattern that includes suspects posing as delivery workers or landscapers to check for vacant homes. Residents are urged not to touch suspicious devices and to report anything unusual to police.
San José Police: Burglars Used Camouflaged Cameras To Spy On Homes Before Strikes
San Jose authorities said surveillance trends have been identified in the city.(Getty Images)
California authorities are urging residents to be vigilant after San José police discovered burglars placing camouflaged surveillance cameras outside homes to monitor activity before committing crimes.
Officers from the San José Police Department responded Thursday to a neighborhood on the city’s east side, where investigators determined that suspects had hidden a disguised camera in shrubbery outside a residence and fled the scene. The homeowner later found the device, which police collected as evidence.
Officials said the recovered camera was connected to a power bank and positioned to face the house, apparently to observe occupants or household activity as part of planning a burglary or other criminal act. SJPD Burglary Unit detectives opened an investigation and later located a second camouflaged device nearby that is believed to have been Wi‑Fi powered.
Police Warn Of Pattern And Deceptive Tactics
Following the discoveries, the department said it has received "several" similar reports, indicating a possible pattern of casing homes using covert surveillance. Authorities warned that suspects sometimes plant hidden cameras or adopt disguises—such as posing as delivery workers, landscapers or other service providers—to check whether houses are vacant before breaking in.
What Residents Should Watch For
- Unfamiliar people repeatedly walking or driving past a property
- Someone ringing doorbells to see if anyone answers
- Packages deliberately left at doors to test whether a home is occupied
- Suspicious devices hidden in landscaping, planters, porches or other outdoor areas
The department advises homeowners who find a suspicious device not to touch it and to call law enforcement immediately. If safe to do so, note vehicle descriptions or take photos from a distance to help investigators.
No arrests have been reported in the recent San José case, and detectives continue to investigate.
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