LA County Neighborhood Rattled By Hidden Flowerbed Camera

LOS ANGELES, CA — Yet another stealth camera planted by organized thieves has been found in an upscale Los Angeles County neighborhood, prompting sheriff's officials to warn residents to be on guard.

The high-tech tactic being is deployed by organized thieves, often burglary rings traveling from Chile or Columbia in what police are calling burglary tourism. The cameras, disguised to blend in with vegetation, enable the thieves to stake out multiple homes remotely to determine when residents come and go.

Recently, residents found the devices in yards from Calabasas to Garden Grove.

The latest discovery was made in a Calabasas flower bed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

It was unclear how long the camera had been there, or who placed it there.

"We are asking the community to be vigilant," sheriff's officials said in a statement. "While out gardening or if you have someone that maintains your yard, be on the lookout for suspicious devices. If a suspicious device is found, immediately report it to the Malibu/Lost Hills Station -- 818- 878-1808 — or your local law enforcement."

The sheriff's department recommends residents fight technology with technology and vigilance, offering these tips:

• Remain vigilant and observant of any suspicious activity in residential areas, particularly unusual objects or disturbances in yards or bushes.•
• Conduct regular inspections of your property, including thorough checks of outdoor areas for any signs of tampering or unusual objects.•
• Enhance home security measures, such as installing motion-activated lights, perimeter fencing, and surveillance systems to deter potential threats.•
• Immediately report any suspicious findings, such as hidden cameras or unfamiliar individuals, to local law enforcement for further investigation.

Detectives have also identified tactics being used by thieves dubbed South American Theft Groups According to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department:

• SATG, often comprised of Chilean or Colombian nationals, are highly organized criminal enterprises that travel from state-to-state committing burglaries and thefts.
• Their members are often in the United States on limited tourist visas.•
• SATG employs covert tactics, concealing surveillance devices like hidden cameras amidst natural surroundings such as leaves and bushes.•
• Cameras are strategically placed in residential front/back yards to monitor homeowner activities and patterns of movement.•
• The group utilizes remote access technology to monitor the live feed from hidden cameras, enabling real-time surveillance and reconnaissance.•
• Prior to deployment, the group conducts extensive scouting to identify optimal locations for hidden camera placement, focusing on areas with minimal visibility.•
• The group operates swiftly, deploying hid-den cameras within minutes to minimize the risk of detection by homeowners or law enforcement.

Police in Glendale recently arrested four Columbian nationalssuspected of 'burglary tourism.'

Last week, a sergeant saw a car driving with no headlights on a dead-end street in the area of Emerald Isle and Kirkham drives, according to police, who said the sergeant deemed the vehicle suspicious and stopped it.

A search revealed a video surveillance device with a battery back charging system camouflaged in leaves, according to police, who also found freshly disturbed dirt in a planter in the cul-de-sac. Law enforcement believe the men put the camera in the planter to learn when homeowners were leaving, police said, adding they also found a hard hat and vest — a possible ruse to approach homes without rousing suspicion — as well as jewelry boxes in the car.

Bryan Martinez Vargas, 28; Jose Antonio Velasquez, 28; Edison Arley Pinzon Fandino, 27; and Luis Carlos Moreno, 29, were taken into custody around 10:30 p.m. Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary, police said, noting Vargas had been arrested in a similar case just weeks earlier.

Vargas had also been apprehended following a high-speed chase after police responded to a residential burglary in progress April 30 in the 4300 block of Boston Avenue, authorities said. During the pursuit, stolen items were discarded, including a WiFi signal jammer to disable security systems, according to police, who said 45-year-old William Guanume was apprehended along with Vargas.