Police departments in several states are warning homeowners about a new tactic used by burglars: burying hidden cameras in front yards to watch when people come and go.
In May, Mary Kehoe, a resident of Forest Hills in Queens, New York City, discovered what appeared to be a taped-up smartphone on her lawn. “Why us? I had lots of things going through my head as to why they chose our lawn, but I realized we are in the middle of the block,” Kehoe told CBS News.
In a Queens neighbourhood, a resident discovered a phone covered in black tape, with only its camera exposed hidden in the lawn and seemingly used as high-tech surveillance by thieves to secretly monitor residents’ movements.
📹cbsnewyork#NewYork #USA #Thieves #crime #queens pic.twitter.com/QRseFcX7XW— Fresh Off Internet (@freshofinternet) June 16, 2025
A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department said the investigation is ongoing: “There is no arrest, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to visit their local precinct to file a report or call 911.”
Similar incidents have also been reported in California. In Garden Grove, a woman found a hidden camera disguised as trash and connected to a battery pack inside a neighbor’s bush, aimed directly at her house.
In Glendale, four men were arrested on May 20 after police discovered a hidden camera and battery pack during a routine traffic stop.
Authorities in Los Angeles County have linked these cases to a sophisticated burglary ring involving South American theft groups. Often made up of individuals from Chile or Colombia, these groups are known to use hidden surveillance devices, such as cameras hidden in bushes or flower beds, to monitor homes and plan break-ins.
Police added that, in addition to New York and California, the new scheme has also been reported in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
James Knight, a cybersecurity expert, told Daily Mail that phones are cheap tools that can record everything from daily habits to security weaknesses. Knight said residents can protect their homes by taking basic measures such as installing visible cameras, using motion-activated lights, and securing doors and windows.
