Police issued a warning for residents in Riverside County on Thursday after a rash of home and car burglaries in several neighborhoods.
Investigators believe the crimes are being committed by burglars working in teams.
Police say the burglars are looking for easy targets, going from car-to-car or home-to-home, looking for open doors and windows. If they find one, they're in and out in seconds.
Corona resident Neftali Rivera said his surveillance camera picked up a burglar with a flashlight casing out the doors of his home early Wednesday morning.
"Maybe he's looking to case the house and maybe comeback later and break into the house," Rivera said.
It's disturbing because the stranger pays close attention to the window where Rivera's 9-year-old daughter sleeps.
"I don't know if he's a burglar," Rivera said. "I don't know if he's a sexual predator. My family's safety comes first."
Rivera and his wife got a surveillance system because a year ago they were victims of a burglary. They're not alone.
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Just a few nights ago burglars targeted Josh Fischer's Murrieta neighborhood, north of California Oaks Road.
The burglars got into several cars, including one belonging to Fischer's dad.
"The car door was unlocked so they just go for crimes that they can do really quick," he said. "They don't break anything. They just check every door if it's unlocked. They'll go through it real quick."
Surveillance video across the street shows a car neighbors believe is connected to the string of car burglaries.
Riverside police say it's a type of crime that has also plagued some of their neighborhoods.
Last week they arrested two men, who were allegedly working as a team.
"They're paying attention to what their residents are doing, what your mode-of-operation is," said Chad Milby, of the Riverside Police Department. "When you go to work, when you take your kids to school."
That's why police say people need to lock doors and windows. If you can afford it, police say get a security system.
"It could happen to anyone and you have to be ready," Rivera said.
