If you find one of these outside your home, call police

Police in California have issued a warning after they discovered a more sophisticated hidden camera this week.

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KTLA) — Authorities in one Southern California community are urging residents to inspect the areas around their homes after the discovery of a hidden camera earlier this week.

Alhambra police officers responded to an attempted burglary Monday night.

“The victim's neighbor found a hidden camera in the bushes pointing toward their home,” police said in a social media post that included a photo of the camera. It was concealed in a green shell and surrounded by leaves.

Police said the homeowners’ alarm company also notified them of an attempt to open a kitchen window earlier in the day.

Hidden cameras appear to be growing in popularity among thieves.

In May, police in Glendale, California, arrested four Colombian nationals who are accused of running a “burglary tourism” operation that involved the use of camouflage cameras.

Days later, another hidden camera was found in bushes and pointed at a home in Garden Grove, California.

The Alhambra Police Department offered the following tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Never leave a hidden key at home.
• If you spot a suspicious vehicle, write down the license plate and report it.
• Always lock doors and windows when leaving, even if only for a moment.
• Keep your front porch and exteriors well-lit.
• Keep trees and bushes well-trimmed so they don’t become a hiding spot for thieves.
• Install home security cameras and monitor frequently.
• If you spot a broken window or open door, do not enter and call police immediately.

Authorities in other parts of the country are also warning about a wave of suspected burglary tourism crimes involving criminals who use surveillance and other sophisticated techniques.

In May, Sheriff Mike Bouchard of Michigan's Oakland County told NewsNation that he believes trained criminal gangs from Chile are taking advantage of a visa waiver program that allows them to enter the country with less scrutiny. Chile is the last South American country that qualifies for the program, part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

"The Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for Tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa," according to the State Department website, which adds that travelers must have a valid ESTA to come to the US.

Bouchard said sophisticated criminals have burglarized 40-50 Oakland County homes since late 2023, targeting affluent communities. The victims include executives and CEOs linked to General Motors, Stellantis and Ford, the so-called Big Three, which have headquarters in the Detroit area.

“We’re not going to stop it as a local agency or even with, you know, state and federal partners. It’s got to be stopped by national policy,” Bouchard told NewsNation.

If you spot anything suspicious in your yard or home, you should contact authorities.