“The Bad Guys are Ahead of Us”–“Burglary Tourism.”
type of hidden camera placed in bushes outside of at least one Westchester home
By Dan Murphy
A Scarsdale homeowner recently found a hidden camera in their yard. While this is the first incident in Westchester, several upscale communities across the country have uncovered the same problem and may be part of a growing trend by criminals to scope out your home before a burglary. The FBI is investigating.
Here are the details from Scarsdale. “A Public Safety Message from Mayor Justin Arest, Police Chief Andrew Matturro, and Acting Village Manager Alexandra Marshall. On July 28, 2024, a resident of Bradford Road discovered a hidden surveillance camera on their property. The Scarsdale Police Department (SPD) was immediately notified and is currently investigating the matter in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. No one was harmed and there was no indication of a burglary having occurred. The surrounding area was searched, and no further devices have been found.
“Unfortunately, the use of cameras has become a popular tactic by thieves nationwide to monitor opportunities for burglarizing homes. As a precaution, SPD has increased patrols throughout the community. If you come across an unidentified camera or observe any suspicious activity on your property, immediately contact the Scarsdale Police Department at 914-722-1200, or 911 in the event of an emergency.
“We understand that this situation can feel unsettling, and we want to equip residents with important information. The best offense against theft is a strong defense, which is why SPD wants to remind you of these burglary prevention tips:
• Keep all exterior doors at your residence locked, using deadbolt locks. Also, keep your garage door closed and locked, including your interior access door, and lock all widows, including second floor.
• Lock your vehicle doors and remove your keys and key fobs from inside your vehicle.
• Secure your garage door opener in a locked glovebox, as thieves may use it to enter your home to retrieve your vehicle key or steal other valuables.
• Always turn your alarm system on when you are away. It is also recommended to have your alarm system in the “stay” or “home” mode when you are home, especially while you are sleeping.
• Use motion sensing exterior lighting and keep the perimeter of your home well lit.
• Never leave your house key under doormats or in “hiding” places outside of your home.
• Consider the use of a video surveillance system to protect your property.
Media reports have highlighted three recent cases, in New Jersey, California and Massachusetts.
Local police departments have cautioned residents to “go out and check their property from time to time and make sure there’s nothing unusual there. It’s sad that it has come to this.”
In Glendale, California, police arrested four men in what they called an “international burglary ring,” where “officers recovered a Wi-Fi signal jammer, which allow individuals to unlawfully enter homes undetected. This technology disrupts home Wi-Fi systems, cutting the feed of traditional home security systems and cameras, and rendering them ineffective in alerting homeowners or law enforcement to the presence of intruders.”
In Braintree, Massachusetts, police arrested three men after finding a hidden camera surveilling several homes.
The group of burglars are said to be from South America. They enter the US under the ruse of being tourists before checking out affluent communities to rob. In California, the robberies have been dubbed “Burglary tourism.”
Scarsdale Police Lt. Brenden Kellaher told ABC NY that the group “are a fairly organized group of burglars and one of the tactics is placing these trail cameras or surveillance devices for maybe multiple days before committing burglaries.
How the thieves plant the devices without getting seen is unknown.
No arrests have been made in Scarsdale. The FBI is involved in the investigation, and in May warned the public.
“International theft groups are typically comprised of individuals from South American countries who travel to the United States to participate in organized theft rings and are likely responsible for select organized burglaries and thefts. These theft groups usually target homes in affluent neighborhoods when the residents are out of town, concentrating on the master or main bedroom and taking high end jewelry, accessories, and cash. Instances of the groups targeting homes include surveillance of their victims to learn their schedules.
Not only have the groups been known to target homes in affluent neighborhoods, they also are likely responsible for select distraction robberies at grocery stores and similar establishments. Methods include surreptitiously removing credit cards from victims’ wallets, or the theft of the entire wallet, resulting in purchases of pre-paid gift cards at commercial retailers.
“This crime is definitely on the FBI’s radar, and we are tracking identified international organized theft groups to intercept them as they move between targets and are working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate the threat,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton.
FBI tips to avoid becoming a victim include:
Vary your daily routine
Don’t post on social media that you’re on vacation
Utilize a doorbell camera with an alarm system
Keep inside lights on with timers
Take photos of valuables and keep those items in a safe
Don’t leave large amounts of cash in the home
One Westchester resident posted on social media that “Everyone should have a Ring Cam Scarsdale camera hidden by South American illegal migrants is a big operation. Hidden cameras have been discovered over the last several weeks in California and in Boston. FBI and Homeland Security are now involved. This is only going to get worse; this is just the beginning and much is not being reported on in the media.”
Anyone with information can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.
