Burglars caught spying on homes with hidden camouflaged cameras before striking neighborhoods

California authorities are warning residents to stay on high alert after burglars were caught using hidden, camouflaged surveillance cameras to secretly monitor homes—a chilling tactic police say is being used to scope out targets before striking.

The warning comes after the San José Police Department on Thursday responded to a neighborhood on the east side of the city.

Officers learned burglars hid a camouflaged camera in the bushes outside a home before fleeing the scene.

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

MASKED THIEVES IN SOUTH AMERICAN CRIME RING LOOT AMERICAN HOMES IN COORDINATED PATTERN, POLICE WARN

Authorities said the camer...