The Whittier Police Department said the camera was tucked among artificial leaves and branches, according to a photo released by the department, giving the device a convincing disguise. "Our detectives recently located a camera hidden in a bush across the street from a home that had been burglarized," the department wrote on social media. "Burglars may use concealed cameras or other surveillance methods to watch homes and identify crime opportunities."
The camera was found at a dead end off Hadley St into the hills while detectives worked the burglary investigation. Police have not said how long the camera had been there or determined who planted it.
Authorities are now urging residents to inspect their properties, especially bushes and landscaping. "Basically, if it looks like a good place to hide a camera, give it a second look," police said. They also recommend keeping trees and bushes trimmed, securing doors, windows and gates, using exterior lighting and security cameras, and installing alarms throughout the home.
The discovery is not the first time Southern California residents have been warned about cameras hiding in plain sight. In June, police in Brea issued a similar warning after a surveillance device was found concealed in bushes in a neighborhood, raising concerns that residents could be watched without knowing it.
The Whittier case remains under investigation. Police have not determined who planted the camera, and they are warning there may be more victims as they continue to investigate the burglary.