Suspicious Device In Riverside Linked To Possible Burglary Scouting

Riverside police have confirmed that a suspicious device recovered outside a Riverside home was actually a concealed surveillance setup similar to equipment used by residential burglary groups to scout neighborhoods.

On October 2, 2026, around 8:15 p.m., Riverside police and firefighters responded to the 9300 block of Equestrian Drive after a suspicious box was discovered near a residence, prompting concerns about a possible explosive device.

Officers located a small box positioned near a tree, with a sledgehammer also observed on the opposite side of the tree. Due to the suspicious circumstances, the Riverside Police Department Bomb Squad responded and took over the investigation.

Police closed Equestrian Drive while bomb technicians deployed a robot to examine and recover the device. The recovery was completed around 12:30 a.m., more than four hours after the initial response.

In an October 8 update, the Riverside Police Department confirmed the device consisted of a battery pack secured to a Wi-Fi hotspot and a camera pointed toward the home’s front door.

According to police, the setup was consistent with equipment previously used by residential burglary groups to monitor homes while scouting neighborhoods.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the residence was specifically targeted for a burglary or who placed the device.

The camouflaged device and its recovery by the bomb squad can be seen in the video.

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