If you find one of these vehicles in front of your house, call the police

Photo of the hidden camera found outside a home in Alhambra, California on June 17, 2024. (Alhambra Police Department)

Authorities in a Southern California community are urging residents to check the area around their homes after a hidden camera was discovered earlier this week.

Alhambra police officers responded to a call of an attempted burglary in the 1900 block of South Primrose Avenue Monday evening.

“The victim’s neighbor found a hidden camera in the bushes pointed at his house,” police said in a social media post that included a photo of the camera, hidden in a green cover and surrounded by leaves.

Police said the homeowners’ alarm system also alerted them to an attempt to open a kitchen window earlier in the day.

Hidden cameras seem to be becoming increasingly popular with thieves.

In May, Glendale police arrested four Colombian citizens on suspicion of engaging in “burglary tourism” using disguised cameras.

Days later, another hidden camera was found in bushes aimed at a house in Garden Grove.

Alhambra Police offer the following tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Never leave a hidden key at home.
• If you spot a suspicious vehicle, note the license plate number and report it.
• Always lock doors and windows when you leave the house, even if it is just for a moment.
• Make sure your porch and outdoor area are well lit.
• Keep trees and bushes well trimmed so that they do not serve as hiding places for thieves.
• Install surveillance cameras at home and monitor them regularly.
• If you discover a broken window or an open door, do not enter the building but call the police immediately.