Gazing Back: The New Thieves Planting Hidden Cams to Watch Our Homes [CNET]

Burglars may be watching you with their camouflaged security cams. Here’s how to tell and what’s going on with this new crime wave.

It began as just a few isolated episodes where burglars acted suspiciously smart. Then it started happening again: from Boston and Baltimore to Detroit, and then Phoenix, and then Los Angeles and on and on. Burglars known as “crime tourists” have begun spying back on homeowners with private, camouflaged security cams, waiting for the right time to strike.

This robbery spree has grown so bad in 2024 that police organizations like the FBI have issued official warnings describing the issue. Rumors about these high-tech criminals (and where they’re from) multiplied even faster than the burglaries, which has led to plenty of confusion and misinformation. We’ve got all the accurate answers you need to help protect your home.

Is this really a new wave of high-tech ‘crime tourist’ burglars?

Sort of, but it’s not as extravagant as some news stories would have people believe. Traditional burglars are simply adopting new surveillance techniques, thanks to wireless cam technology. Some news and police organizations have started calling these thieves “crime tourists” because they believe the techniques began with tourists from countries that allow short-term vacation visas or visa-less passes — particularly from South America — using these vacations to pick out and burgle houses. Some robbers were tracked back to Chile, Peru, Colombia and nearby countries that share these programs with the United States.

However, these techniques aren’t owned by any particular group (the UK and Australia have seen similar problems), and not all claims made in the media about these acts have been confirmed. Some people also use the term “South American Theft Groups,” which we stress aren’t self-identified gangs, or limited to South America — rather, this is a phrase some police organizations coined when trying to track down sponsorship for certain crimes.

Regardless of origin, the new thieves using hidden spy cameras do share a number of common tactics. Those include:

• Searching for affluent neighborhoods or specific homes that look like they contain lots of valuables
• Looking for homes where it’s easy to hide things or people in nearby bushes, trees or shrubs
• Monitoring these homes for several days to track people’s movements
• Camouflaging spy cams with leaves and green cases to hide them in trees or bushes
• Quickly breaking into homes during the day to steal jewelry, cash and expensive accessories while everyone is gone
• Avoiding the purchase/use of firearms or illegal activities that could draw attention
• Having contacts who can swiftly bail out the thieves if they’re arrested

Wait, why are the burglars hiding their own security cameras in the first place?

It’s all about learning your schedule. Most burglaries happen in the middle of the day, when no one’s home. But it’s harder than ever to count on that, so these advanced thieves use battery-powered security cameras and apps to quickly view a full day’s activity outside of a home, noting when people leave and return.

With this information, burglars can create a plan to quickly break into a house when everyone is gone and get out before anyone realizes they were there. They can also note when neighbors leave or arrive, to cut down on other risks. A couple of weekdays of monitoring, and a burglary can become much more efficient.

Are police working to stop these crimes?

Different police departments have different responses, but with agencies like the FBI involved, law enforcement has had a measure of success in catching these criminals. For example, a surveillance project allowed detectives to capture a three-person crime ring (all citizens of the United States that time) in the Boston case mentioned above. Similar efforts have seen success in other cities. In other cases, homeowners have found the hidden cams themselves and reported them to police departments, but no one’s been arrested so far.

The problem is that police don’t always have the resources and time to arrange a surveillance project like Boston did. They definitely don’t have the resources to check every suburban neighborhood for hidden cameras in the foliage. And if a burglary has already happened successfully, it’s tough for cops to do much unless the burglars continue to hit homes in the same area.

That means homeowners are the first and often best line of defense against these patient, tech-savvy thieves.

How can I stop burglars who prep like this?

It’s very hard for most people to adjust their routines or try to fool hidden burglar cams. But all the prep in the world won’t do thieves much good against the right kinds of home security. Here’s how to think about boosting your protection if you consider your home a likely target for these kinds of criminals.

Deal with overgrown areas on your property

Avoid leaving any overgrown shrubs or trees where thieves can hide their own cameras. Keep your bushes and other greenery well trimmed, well away from walls or fences, and without blind spots. Consider removing ivy or any wall-growth plants. A well-tended yard is a poor place to put a camera.

If you’ve had recent burglaries in your area, consider taking a tour of the streetside trees and any large shrubs on the other side of the street to see if there’s a camera hiding there.

Use a security camera with lights and human detection

Advanced security cameras have two-way audio, human-detection, and programmable LED floodlights you can use to make any trespasser think twice, regardless of whether you’re home. Even if thieves approach confidently in the middle of the day, a camera or a video doorbell can still alert you that a person is approaching, while the audio features let you immediately tap in from the app and ask what they’re doing.

Read more: Best security cameras with lights

Program smart light schedules

Vacation modes for smart lights simulate people being home, so burglars don’t recognize houses as vacant. Similar smart light settings can make it seem that people are working from home during the day, or coming home from work, even if no one’s there that early in the evening. Confuse burglars with these settings and they’re much more likely to choose a different target.

Arm a home security system with sirens

Though tenacious thieves may ignore a home security system, systems armed with access sensors and loud sirens remain an excellent deterrent. These new burglaries depend on no one noticing the break-in. Sirens that can alert neighbors and passersby can help drive worried burglars away ASAP. The top home security systems have features and add-ons just for this, as do the best DIY systems.

Read more: Experts discuss whether your dog can actually prevent break-ins

Lock valuables in a durable safe

Any small valuables left accessible are easy targets for these thieves, as are smaller safes that can be carried away. Keep small valuables in a high-quality home safe while you’re gone, and if it’s a smaller smart safe, find one you can bolt in place for protection.

For more tips on improving your overall home security, take a look at our full home security cheat sheet and review the worst home security mistakes you can make.