An 80-year-old woman and her family are shaken after discovering a hidden camera concealed outside her home in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, raising fears of surveillance tied to a possible burglary attempt.

The woman’s son, identified only as Kenny for safety reasons, said his mother called him on January 5 after noticing something unusual while watering her plants. Tucked among the potted greenery was a small rectangular device, carefully camouflaged with fake grass.

“She saw the wire hanging out,” Kenny said. “I pulled it out and it was a camera hidden right here and it’s facing the front door.”

Kenny believes the device was placed to monitor his mother’s movements, potentially as part of a planned break-in. He immediately disconnected the battery pack and covered the lens with tape to stop it from recording.

According to Kenny, the device appeared deliberately concealed. “It was wrapped really carefully and taped really tight inside,” he told KTLA reporter Sara Welch. He said he was unable to power it down completely because it required a password to unlock.

The incident was reported to the Los Angeles Police Department, and the camera was turned over to detectives for investigation. Authorities have not said who placed the device or how long it had been there.

Neighbors, alarmed by the discovery, said the incident has heightened fears throughout the area. The case is not isolated. Similar hidden cameras have recently been found outside homes across the Southland, including in Encino, West Covina, Chino Hills, Garden Grove, San Marino, and other communities.

Police have warned that criminals sometimes use hidden cameras in conjunction with drones or mobile apps, allowing them to monitor potential victims remotely while remaining nearby.

Kenny said he does not know when the camera was installed but hopes speaking publicly will encourage others to stay vigilant.

“I wouldn’t think it would happen to us,” he said. “But luckily we caught it in time.”