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California Homeowner Finds Hidden Camera Disguised with Fake Grass in His Yard
PP ^ | Apr 30, 2025 | Pesala Bandara

Posted on 05/01/2025 8:00:26 PM PDT by george76

A Southern California homeowner discovered a hidden camera disguised with fake grass on his property — part of a growing trend in which burglars plant covert cameras in yards in the area to monitor homes and track when residents leave...

George Nguyen, who is a homeowner in West Covina, California, was watering the hedges in his front yard after dark on Friday (April 25) when he noticed a light coming from one of the bushes.

However, when Nguyen investigated further, he discovered that the light was coming from a well-hidden device — with a lens and a green light — facing his home camouflaged in fake grass. He saw the lens and the green light.

Nguyen covered the lens with his thumb and moved the camera, which he estimated to be 10 inches long and about 4 inches high, so it faced away from his home. He then called West Covina Police immediately. When cops responded to the scene, they confirmed that it was a secret camera that was being used to monitor the comings and goings at Nguyen’s house.

Police have not yet identified the suspect or suspects who hid the camera in the Nguyens’ front yard in West Covina.

A Growing Trend for Hidden Cameras..

The use of hidden surveillance devices by burglars is becoming an increasingly common tactic — not just in West Covina, but across various parts of Southern California — as criminals plant covert cameras in yards to monitor homes and track when residents come and go.

...

another camera was discovered in the area last month, positioned to face a home. Authorities are still investigating whether the two incidents are connected and no arrests have been made. While it differed in type from the camera found in Nguyen’s home, it raised similar concerns.

ABC News also reports that in the past year, a camera disguised as a flower was found in Chino Hills, and cameras camouflaged into landscaping were found in Alhambra, Santa Barbara, and Lost Hills.

Law enforcement agencies say these covert devices are increasingly favored by burglars looking to surveil homes and determine when they’re unoccupied. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, many of these cases have been tied to so-called “burglary tourism” groups from South America, who travel to the region specifically to commit crimes.

“We believe it’s consistent with burglary crews operating in Southern California,” Sgt. Steven Spagon of West Covina Police Department tells San Gabriel Valley Tribune.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: burglars; burglarycrews; burglarytourism; california; camera; cameraplots; cameras; crime; greenlight; hidden; hiddencamera; lights; surveillance; theft; thieves
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1 posted on 05/01/2025 8:00:26 PM PDT by george76
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To: george76

These have a wireless link or on board storage that needs someone to retrieve it?


2 posted on 05/01/2025 8:05:42 PM PDT by doorgunner69 (Your oath of enlistment has no expiration date)
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To: george76

Kevin McAllister, pick up the white courtesy phone.


3 posted on 05/01/2025 8:05:46 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (Are you now, or have you ever been, a Democrat?)
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To: doorgunner69
These have a wireless link or on board storage that needs someone to retrieve it?

It would have to be wireless because the burglars need real time data to know when you have "left the building."

4 posted on 05/01/2025 8:09:44 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of anger, hate and violence.)
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To: george76

So there are several ways to scan a hotel room for cameras and I think that anyone using a B and B would be smart to do that.... but now we got to do a scan of our property on a regular basis?


5 posted on 05/01/2025 8:12:03 PM PDT by hecticskeptic
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To: george76
Removing the camera would be a missed opportunity.

Invite a few friends over, wait for your "guests"...

6 posted on 05/01/2025 8:12:31 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: george76

I have thought about what would happen if someone broke into our house.
We don’t keep any cash,
We don’t have any valuable jewelry.
What are they going to steal?
One of our flat screen TVs?
The most valuable thing we have here are
some rib eyes and T-Bones in our freezer!


7 posted on 05/01/2025 8:13:50 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

If people leave to work or school at same time, may not need real time camera feedback.


8 posted on 05/01/2025 8:14:06 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (I am in mid-80's and I am not gonna change my opinions.)
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To: george76

That’s creepy, knowing somebody is casing your home, and involved enough to use a device to gather information.
What do they think is in that home?

I thought the one who purchased that camera would be on record of a retail transaction somewhere, even if just on Amazon.
There are bound to be serial or part numbers visible.


9 posted on 05/01/2025 8:14:14 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Real time action or trends to plan future raids?

if wireless, the transmissions should be detectable with an RF sniffer.


10 posted on 05/01/2025 8:15:56 PM PDT by doorgunner69 (Your oath of enlistment has no expiration date)
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To: T.B. Yoits
IMG-0583

Agreed ;-)

11 posted on 05/01/2025 8:16:26 PM PDT by broken_clock (Go Trump! Prayers answered!)
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To: Repeal The 17th

I am hoping someone will break in to my home and steals all the furniture. I want to buy new furniture and will avoid the expense and effort to get rid of old couches, chairs, 8-14 year old TV’s etc. I have not gone to bank for cash in 20 years. It’s all online cash transactions.


12 posted on 05/01/2025 8:18:03 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (I am in mid-80's and I am not gonna change my opinions.)
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To: T.B. Yoits

Or place a big black or brown scorpion inside camera.


13 posted on 05/01/2025 8:20:35 PM PDT by Bobbyvotes (I am in mid-80's and I am not gonna change my opinions.)
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To: george76

This is why One should have several LARGE DOGS aka Cane Corso Mastiff (see My FRHomepage)/Doberman/Rottweiler/Boxer.

Or an Attack Bull, with horns...


14 posted on 05/01/2025 8:25:12 PM PDT by mabarker1 ((Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! I’m a fraud, hypocrite & liar. I'm a member of Congress!!)
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To: doorgunner69

Wireless yes.


15 posted on 05/01/2025 8:25:37 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: george76

Catch them and kill them. Nothing else is going to work. Set up a VERY good, well-hidden camera to monitor your yard YOURSELF and catch who is placing them (it).


16 posted on 05/01/2025 8:27:23 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: george76

Can’t post on here what I’d likely do, but it would probably not be relying on the screwed-up, so-called criminal justice system.
I will say this; we got some big ole gators in a nearby bayou. I’ve seen a couple of em that would go at least 10’-12’ long.
They would likely get a “special treat”.


17 posted on 05/01/2025 8:31:20 PM PDT by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created...")
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To: Bobbyvotes
An exploding money dye pack would make a great video.



18 posted on 05/01/2025 8:32:52 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: Repeal The 17th

>The most valuable thing we have here are
some rib eyes and T-Bones in our freezer!

I resemble that remark!


19 posted on 05/01/2025 8:33:55 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: george76

Either that neighborhood has them all over or someone knows him and wants something that he has in his place. Probably the latter.


20 posted on 05/01/2025 8:35:49 PM PDT by know.your.why
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