Burglars Using Hidden Cameras to Spy on You?

I haven’t heard about this trend until just recently, but apparently criminals are planting hidden cameras in and around your yard to spy on you!

It should be obvious why, but they’re doing this to learn your schedule. When do you leave for work and when do you return? How many people are in the family? Are there any dogs or nosy neighbors? How many packages do you get delivered and are they left unattended all day long? And so on.

The more they learn, they better they’ll be at deciding when to strike. Then, while you’re away (hopefully for your safety), they break in and steal whatever expensive stuff you may have easily accessible. Granted, this trend appears to largely affect more affluent neighborhoods, so I’m probably safe, but it never hurts to make things as difficult as possible.

Although I discuss strategies to alleviate these types of thieves in my home security book, actions you can take include:

• Trimming hedges and brush around the perimeter of your yard. Typically, the advice is to ensure there are no easy hiding spots for a person to hide, but now you may need to be extra judicious with your trimming so as to make it even more difficult to hide cameras. Granted, “where there’s a will there’s a way” for even a determined thief, but do your best.
• Use security cameras and motion-activated lights all around your property. The more the merrier! If need be, add battery-powered lights and wi-fi enabled cameras to reach areas that may be otherwise inaccessible via corded options. I’ve used these in the past and they tend to work fine, at least well enough to make a burglar think twice before proceeding.
• Program smart lights and other distractions inside your home if you’re gone all day. This is mostly about making it appear that somebody may be inside that they missed. If burglars check their cameras to find lights and a flashing television running all day long, then they may decide your home isn’t worth the trouble and move on.
• Have and use a security system. Interestingly, some people who have a home security system never use them. This seems silly to me, so if you’ve got one, use it!
• Lock up valuables in a quality safe. Again, there’s no reason to make the criminal’s life any easier. Moreover, every security expert on the planet recommends against storing valuables in your bedroom, master closet, and perhaps surprisingly … in your child’s bedroom or closet. Find another place, which is probably a less than ideal location in your home, to store stuff. My guess is that you don’t get into these items very often, so it won’t be that much trouble. But thieves know we’re inherently lazy. Don’t be.

Really, a lot of this should be common sense if you stop to think about it, but it may require you to change a few habits and be more proactive. At minimum, these actions may encourage you to be more vigilant with additional security measures, such as after holidays, when on vacation, and so on.