California authorities Police are warning residents to be on high alert after burglars were caught using hidden, disguised security cameras to secretly monitor homes – a creepy tactic police say is used to identify targets before attacks.

warning appears on saint joseph The Police Department responded to a neighborhood on the city’s east side Thursday.

Police learned the thieves were hiding camouflage camera He was in bushes outside a house before fleeing the scene.

The homeowner later discovered the camera and it was seized by police.

Police shared a photo of a disguised camera. (San Jose Police Department)

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authorities said camera Connected to a power bank and placed facing the house, presumably to monitor residents in case of break-ins or other crimes.

SJPD Theft Unit detectives investigated and later discovered a second disguised device near the area where the first camera was located.

The second device is believed to be a Wi-Fi powered device, according to officials.

Police have shared a photo of a disguised Wi-Fi device that thieves could use to spy on their victims. (San Jose Police Department)

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Following the shocking discovery, the department told residents it had received “several” reports of deceptive tactics being used to search unoccupied homes, illustrating a trend.

Suspects are understood to install hidden surveillance devices or pose as delivery service providers or landscapers to determine when a property is unoccupied. Commit a burglary.

San Jose authorities say the city has discovered a surveillance trend. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“As a reminder, remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activity helps keep our communities safe,” the agency wrote in a statement.

Authorities also say to be on the lookout for people ringing doorbells to see if anyone answers, leaving packages at the door to test whether a home is vacant, and unfamiliar vehicles or people passing by the house repeatedly.

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If a homeowner spots a suspicious device, the department says not to touch it and call law enforcement.

No arrests have been made in the latest San Jose case, according to the department.