"The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office would like the public to be aware of this incident and encourage anyone who finds a similar device to immediately report it to law enforcement," said the sheriff's department.
Similar crimes involving hidden cameras have been reported across Southern California recently, and could possibly be connected to what's known as "burglary tourism," which authorities say is when people from other countries enter the U.S. under the guise of tourism so they can target neighborhoods to commit burglary.
Earlier this month, police in Alhambra found a hidden camera planted in the bushes, facing someone's home. The victims' alarm company had notified them about an attempt to open their kitchen window earlier that day.
A photo of the device that was found in Santa Barbara County was shared to help residents know what to look for.