Buried Cell Phones/Smartphones & Hidden Cameras

Buried Cell Phones & Hidden Cameras – New Cybercrime: The Emergence of Covert Surveillance in Residential Areas

A disturbing trend surfaces when a resident in Queens uncovers a peculiar device buried in a front lawn, marking a new chapter in cybercrime that targets the sanctity of personal spaces. GoPro cameras have also been hidden in people’s yards to spy on them.

Mary Kehoe, a long-time resident of her Forest Hills home for 35 years, stumbles upon an object that resembles an Android phone encased in black tape, its camera lens protruding as if designed solely for observation. The discovery sends a shiver through the community, prompting Kehoe to voice her confusion with “Why us? I had lots of things going through my head as to why they chose our lawn but realized we are in the middle of the block.” This incident, reported in early 2025, highlights a growing tactic where criminals deploy hidden surveillance devices to monitor homeowners, gathering intelligence on daily routines and potential valuables.

The device in question, a low-profile camera likely powered by a battery pack, represents a sophisticated yet accessible tool in the arsenal of modern burglars, cyberstalkers, and anyone spying on people.

Reports indicate these gadgets, often wireless and affordable, emerge from retail outlets like Amazon or Best Buy, making them readily available to anyone with malicious intent. The Queens case mirrors similar occurrences across the Tri-State Area and beyond, with incidents documented in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the tranquil suburbs of Scarsdale. Each discovery reveals a pattern: cameras concealed in bushes, buried in yards, or tucked into planters, all aimed at infiltrating the privacy of unsuspecting households. This cybercrime, blending physical intrusion with digital espionage, exploits the vulnerability of residential spaces in an era where technology permeates every aspect of life.

The Mechanics of the Crime

This cybercrime operates through a deceptively simple mechanism, relying on the strategic placement of surveillance equipment to gather actionable data. Perpetrators select devices that blend into the environment, often disguised with tape, leaves, or artificial grass, ensuring they evade casual notice. The camera in Forest Hills, for instance, featured an exposed lens, suggesting its purpose lay in continuous recording rather than communication. Experts suggest these devices connect to wireless networks, transmitting footage to remote locations where criminals analyze patterns of movement, identifying optimal times for break-ins. The affordability of such technology, with prices ranging from modest to premium depending on quality, lowers the barrier for entry, enabling even amateur thieves to engage in this practice.

Instances across the United States illustrate the breadth of this tactic. In Garden Grove, a resident unearths a camera hidden in a neighbor’s bush, its lens trained on a nearby home, while in Chino Hills, a similar device lurks at the base of a tree. These cases, reported in 2024 and 2025, indicate a coordinated effort, possibly linked to organized groups known as “burglary tourists” from South America. Such individuals enter the country on legitimate visas, using sophisticated yet inexpensive tools to scout affluent or middle-class neighborhoods. The devices typically include battery packs to sustain operation for days or weeks, capturing hours of footage that reveal when homes stand empty, a critical advantage for planning thefts.

The Scope and Impact

The scope of this cybercrime extends beyond isolated incidents, reflecting a nationwide surge in covert surveillance. Reports from Southern California, including Orange County and Temecula, document multiple discoveries, with law enforcement noting a rise in prosecutions tied to these activities. The impact strikes at the core of personal security, eroding the sense of safety within one’s own property. Homeowners like Kehoe experience a profound violation, grappling with the realization that their private moments—morning routines, family gatherings—fall under scrutiny. The financial toll remains secondary to the psychological distress, as residents question their surroundings and alter daily habits to counter the threat.

This crime’s evolution parallels the accessibility of technology, where off-the-shelf cameras become weapons in the hands of criminals. The lack of uniform reporting complicates efforts to quantify the prevalence but anecdotal evidence suggests hundreds of cases annually across urban and suburban areas. Neighborhoods once considered secure, such as Scarsdale, now face the same risks, indicating a democratization of surveillance tools that challenges traditional crime prevention methods. The emotional aftermath leaves residents vigilant, inspecting yards and reporting suspicious objects, a shift that reshapes community dynamics.

The Broader Context

This cybercrime fits into a larger landscape of digital threats, where the line between physical and virtual offenses blurs. Burglars adapt to advancements in home security by leveraging the same technology—cameras and wireless connectivity—that homeowners use for protection. The trend gains traction as global cybercrime losses soar, with the FBI estimating over $16 billion in damages in 2024 alone, a figure that encompasses diverse attacks. Hidden surveillance represents a niche yet growing segment, exploiting the trust people place in their immediate environment. The involvement of international groups adds complexity, as perpetrators move fluidly across borders, leaving local authorities to piece together fragmented evidence.

Communities respond with heightened awareness, encouraged to inspect properties regularly and report findings promptly. The simplicity of the devices—often detectable by unusual shapes or unexpected lights—empowers residents to act as first responders. Yet, the challenge persists, as criminals refine their methods, potentially integrating motion sensors or longer-lasting batteries. This ongoing cat-and-mouse game underscores the need for vigilance, transforming the quiet act of tending a lawn into a moment of potential discovery.

Connection to Scams

The influx of millions of illegal immigrants into the United States over the past four years brings an unfortunate reality that surprises few: among them lurk tens of thousands of scammers originating from West Africa and Asia. This migration amplifies a sophisticated cybercrime trend, where individuals exploit vulnerable communities with increasing audacity. Notably, scammers operating from overseas often collaborate with local associates, tasking them with the covert placement of surveillance cameras at the homes of scam victims. These devices, discreetly hidden in yards or bushes, monitor daily routines, providing critical insights into when residences stand empty or when valuables remain accessible. The breach extends beyond potential financial loss, invading the sanctity of personal space with relentless precision. Authorities urge anyone who suspects involvement in a scam to conduct a meticulous scan of their property, examining every corner for unusual objects or suspicious wiring that might indicate a hidden camera. As this issue gains traction, the need for heightened awareness and vigilance becomes paramount in safeguarding homes across the nation.

The Future of This Threat

The trajectory of this cybercrime suggests an escalation in sophistication and frequency. As technology advances, perpetrators may incorporate artificial intelligence to analyze footage in real time, identifying patterns with greater precision. The proliferation of affordable gadgets ensures the tactic remains accessible, while the anonymity of wireless transmission complicates tracking. Homeowners face a future where privacy demands constant defense, prompting innovations in security that detect unauthorized devices. The incident in Forest Hills serves as a stark reminder, urging a proactive stance against a threat that lurks beneath the surface of everyday life.

Detecting Hidden Cameras with a Smartphone

Individuals seeking to safeguard their homes can leverage the technology already in their possession, specifically their smartphones, to detect the presence of hidden cameras emitting infrared lights. This method offers a practical and immediate solution, particularly in light of the growing prevalence of covert surveillance devices. The process begins with understanding that many hidden cameras, especially those used by burglars for night vision, utilize infrared LEDs to capture footage in low-light conditions. These LEDs emit a light invisible to the naked eye but detectable under certain conditions, making a smartphone a valuable tool for uncovering such threats.

The technique hinges on the smartphone camera’s ability to pick up infrared light, a feature present in most modern devices due to their sensor capabilities. To start, individuals turn off all ambient lights in the room to minimize interference, creating a dark environment that enhances visibility of infrared emissions. Next, they open the camera app on their smartphone and switch to the front-facing camera, as this often proves more sensitive to infrared wavelengths. Slowly, they scan the area—corners, plants, furniture, or any spot where a camera might hide—while observing the screen closely. If a hidden camera operates nearby, small red or purple dots or flares appear on the display, indicating the presence of infrared light.

Enhancing this method requires a few additional steps to ensure accuracy. Individuals hold the smartphone steady, moving it methodically across the space to avoid missing subtle signals. Adjusting the brightness and contrast settings on the camera can amplify the visibility of infrared dots, making them stand out against the dark background. Some find success by using the video recording mode, allowing a frame-by-frame review to catch fleeting emissions. Patience plays a key role, as the process demands careful attention to detail, especially in larger rooms or outdoor areas like front lawns where devices might blend into the surroundings.

Detecting hidden cameras typically works best in the dark.

The effectiveness of this approach stems from the widespread availability of smartphones, equipping nearly every household with a detection tool. Research indicates that infrared LEDs, common in budget surveillance equipment, operate at wavelengths around 850 nanometers, which many smartphone cameras can detect despite filters designed to block such light for human photography. This quirk, an unintended byproduct of camera design, empowers individuals to act proactively. For instance, a resident in a quiet neighborhood might discover a suspicious device buried in a bush, confirming its purpose with this method before taking further action.

Limitations exist, requiring individuals to approach the task with realistic expectations. Not all hidden cameras rely on infrared, and some use alternative technologies that evade this detection. Environmental factors, such as reflections from glass or metal, can create false positives, necessitating a discerning eye to differentiate between artifacts and genuine signals. Repeating the scan from multiple angles helps verify findings, reducing the risk of misinterpretation. Additionally, older smartphone models might lack the sensitivity needed, though most devices manufactured after 2015 perform adequately.

This technique empowers individuals to take control of their security, transforming a routine device into a shield against intrusion. The process fosters a sense of agency, encouraging regular checks of living spaces to maintain privacy. As technology evolves, criminals may adapt their methods, but for now, this smartphone-based approach offers a frontline defense against the covert surveillance plaguing residential areas. The simplicity of the method, requiring no specialized equipment, ensures accessibility, making it a vital skill in an era where privacy faces constant challenges.