Looking Back: The New Thieves Installing Hidden Cameras to Monitor Our Homes

It started with a few isolated incidents of burglars behaving suspiciously cleverly. Then it started happening again: from Boston and Baltimore Unpleasant Detroitand then phoenixand then Los Angeles and so on. Burglars known as “crime tourists” have begun spying on homeowners with private, camouflaged security cameras, waiting for the right moment to strike.

This wave of robberies has become so bad in 2024 that police organizations such as the The FBI has issued official warnings describe the problem. Rumors about these high-tech criminals (and where they come from) have multiplied even faster than the break-ins, leading to much confusion and misinformation. We have all the right answers you need to protect your home.

Is this really a new wave of high-tech burglars looking for ‘crime tourists’?

A little, but it’s not as outrageous as some news stories would have you believe. Traditional burglars are simply adopting new surveillance techniques, thanks to wireless camera technology. Some news and law enforcement organizations have taken to calling these thieves “crime tourists,” because they believe the techniques originated with tourists from countries that allow short-term vacation visas or visa-free passes — particularly those in South America — who used these vacations to pick and burglarize homes. Some of the robbers have been traced to Chile, Peru, Colombia and nearby countries that share these programs with the United States.

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

Regardless of the origin, the new thieves use hidden spy cameras Doing share some common tactics. These include:

• Looking for affluent neighborhoods or specific homes that look like they contain a lot of valuables
• Looking for homes where it is easy to hide things or people in nearby bushes, trees or shrubs
• Monitoring these houses for several days to track people’s movements
• Camouflaging spy cameras with leaves and green housings to hide them in trees or bushes
• Breaking into houses quickly during the day to steal jewelry, money and expensive accessories while everyone is away
• Avoiding the purchase/use of firearms or illegal activities that may attract attention
• Have contacts who can quickly help the thieves out of trouble if they are arrested

Wait a minute, why do burglars hide their own security cameras anyway?

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

With this information, burglars can make a plan to quickly enter a home when everyone is gone and get away before anyone knows they are there. They can also note when neighbors leave or arrive to reduce other risks. A few days of surveillance during the week and a burglary can become much more efficient.

Is the police doing everything they can to stop these crimes?

Different police departments have different responses, but with the involvement of agencies like the FBI, law enforcement has had some success in catching these criminals. For example, a surveillance project enabled detectives to arrest a criminal gang of three individuals (all U.S. citizens at the time) in the Boston case mentioned above. Similar efforts have had success in other cities. In other cases, homeowners have found the hidden cameras themselves and reported them to police departments, but so far no one has been arrested.

The problem is that police don’t always have the resources and time to mount a surveillance operation like Boston did. They certainly don’t have the resources to check every suburban neighborhood for hidden cameras in the foliage. And once a successful break-in has occurred, it’s hard for officers to do much unless the burglars keep targeting homes in the same area.

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

How can I stop burglars who prepare themselves like this?

It’s hard for most people to change their routines or fool hidden burglar cameras. But all the preparation in the world won’t help thieves much against the right types of home security. Here’s how to beef up your security if you think your home is a likely target for these types of criminals.

Treat overgrown areas on your property

Don’t leave overgrown shrubs or trees where thieves can hide their own cameras. Keep your shrubs and other greenery well-trimmed, away from walls or fences, and without blind spots. Consider removing ivy or wall-growing plants. A well-maintained yard is a bad place to put a camera.

If there has been a recent burglary in your neighborhood, take a tour of the trees along the street and the large bushes across the street to see if there is a camera hidden there.

Use a security camera with lighting and human detection

Advanced security cameras have two-way audio, people detection, and programmable LED floodlights that can make any intruder think twice, whether you’re home or not. Even if thieves approach confidently in the middle of the day, a camera or video doorbell can still alert you that someone is approaching, while audio features let you chime in right from the app and ask what they’re doing.

read more: Best security cameras with lights

Program smart lighting schedules

Vacation settings for smart lights simulate people being home, so burglars don’t recognize homes as empty. Similar smart light settings can make it look like people are working from home or coming home from work during the day, even if no one is there this early in the evening. Confuse burglars with these settings and they’ll be much more likely to move on to another target.

Set up a home security system with sirens

While persistent thieves may ignore a home security system, systems with entry 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 scare worried burglars away as quickly as possible. The best home security systems have features and add-ons specifically for this purpose, as do the best DIY systems.

read more: Experts discuss whether your dog can actually prevent burglaries

Store valuables in a durable safe

Any small valuables that are still within reach are easy targets for these thieves, as are smaller safes that can be carried away. Keep small valuables in a quality home safe while you’re away, and if it’s a smaller smart safe, look for one that you can bolt down for protection.

For more tips on improving your home security, check out our full roundup of home security tips, which breaks down the worst home security mistakes you can make.