Remote hi-tech mini camera and battery pack planted by thieves in a neighbours shrubs to monitor a home for robbery.
Toronto Police are warning residents to be wary of hidden cameras being trained on their homes by crooks to monitor your movements so they can conduct break and enters.
Police said the remote hi-tech cameras with battery packs are usually secretly placed in bushes or hedges facing homes where thieves suspect there are valuable items.
The cameras relay images to the thieves alerting them in real time of the movements of residents or when their vehicle has left so they can break into the home and steal jewelry or other valuables.
The warning surfaced after a home on Thirtieth Street in New Toronto was broken into last week and ‘high value’ items stolen by brazen thieves. The home was ransacked for about 30 minutes before the bandits fled.
Two burglary suspects photographed by remote camera placed to monitor a home in a neighbour’s shrubs.
Police found a camera attached to a battery pack across from the home. The device was hidden in evergreen bush across the street in a neighbour’s front yard. It was camouflaged with green tape, pointed at the targeted home.
“They had been watching us to learn our schedules, how many people in the house etc.,” the victimized residents posted on social media.
Three days later police found a similar camera in another break and enter in Etobicoke. And last year there was an exact incident at a home in an affluent area of central Etobicoke. In all cases, valuable jewelry, family heirlooms and other costly items were stolen.
Police warn that the thieves use a metal detector to find hidden jewelry so they quickly flee.
Shrubs where a planted small remote camera and battery pack were found by police after a monitored home was heisted.
Residents are advised not leave their windows open and be vigilant for the cameras.
The targeted residents in this case posted pictures of two suspects; the camera and where it was hidden.
It is noted the thieves were wearing gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.
Social media was lit up with residents expressing their concerns over the daring thefts.
“How terrifying to know that people are watching it,” wrote Vera Teschow “Thank you for having the courage and the thoughtfulness to share with others in the area.”
“Thank you for sharing and let’s all promise to be good neighbours and keep your eyes open,” said Michelle MacDonald. “Let’s keep it that way neighbours.”
Susan Hausmann said residents should always check their shrubs for foreign items.
A mini wireless camera like this and battery pack were used to monitor a home from across the street to find out when residents had left so crooks could steal valuables.
“Wow. They are getting pretty smart,” she wrote. “We should all go and check our shrubs to see if there are any cameras facing our neighbors.”
“I would like to see them break in and someone be home to give them a surprise,” noted Bev MacPhee. “I am sure they would not be walking out of the house.”
Lucy Lu said we need tougher laws to prevent the brazen thieves.
“And they will keep doing this cuz even if caught they are released next day,” Lu wrote. “It’s just gonna get worse unless the laws change or we could defend ourselves cuz not even that we are allowed.”
“I hope they are caught,” said Templelena Nugent. “Nothing like taking your sense of security away.”