Residents in an east San Jose neighborhood have been warned about a new tactic burglars are utilizing to monitor when residents are away from home by hiding a surveillance camera on the property then later posing as landscapers or delivery drivers visiting the residence.

As SFGate reports, a resident called the San Jose Police Department at 2:45 am Thursday reporting that people were on their property, who left before officers arrived. The resident then found a camera attached to an external power bank in their bushes, which was aimed at their home, according to San Jose police, presumably to monitor when the home was unoccupied in order to commit burglaries.

As KRON4 reports, while patrolling the neighborhood, detectives found a second camera attached to a Wi-Fi-powered device outside a home near where the first camera was placed.

“The suspects plant hidden surveillance devices, often posing as delivery service providers, to determine when homes are unoccupied before committing burglaries,” the police department said, per KRON4.

Per SFGate, the police department said in a press release it’s received several complaints of suspicious devices hidden on local residents’ properties, followed by the potential burglars ringing the doorbells while posing as delivery drivers or other workers, sometimes leaving packages on the doorstep.

Per SFGate, authorities say residents should call the police if a suspicious device is found, and not to touch it. “As a reminder, remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activity helps keep our neighborhoods safe,” said the police department.

Anyone with information should email the police department’s burglary unit at [email protected].

Image: San Jose Police Department