Trail cameras
 

What do you guys think about using trail cameras for surveillance? I have a large walkup apt complex with large street frontage on 2 sides. We have a no dumping ordinance in Honolulu, but of course, people still dump their junk. With the large street frontage, and in a high density area, my property becomes a target for dumping. We are supposed to report dumping to the police dept, but they don't really care. The city is just waiting to send fines to property owners.

So, would a trail camera suffice?

I think so. I know a few guys that use them for trespassers...
One guy caught the neighbor kids vandalizing his rental. "Mormons rock" in spray paint on the side of the house. I should get a copy of that one lols

Other is guy owns the property next to mine. He's a bit paranoid imho.

Trick is not to make them obvious so they don't grow legs...

If you get the no glow type it would probably work. I've never used the no glow but I've been in the woods at night when my camera took pictures and it's really easy to spot. I can recommend a fairly inexpensive Bushnell that I bought on ebay that his good trigger speed, good battery life, good trigger distance and takes good still and video.

I have a game cam I put out sometimes. It's a pretty wide angle shot when it takes a picture, so things seem more distant than they are. The night shots are recognizable but not very good detail. It's a middle of the road camera price wise. It has the infrared(?) flash so I guess animals aren't disturbed by it, although lots of shots are face shots of animals.

I'm trying to get pics of the 2 legged rats. lol How long do the batteries last? I would be placing them both on buildings that get a good amount of road and foot traffic.

Mine eats up its eight double A batteries pretty quickly, but I haven't used it in a while so don't remember exactly how long they last. In trying to get decent pictures, I'd try to position it so take them as close up as you can.

Thanks for the info. It is greatly appreciated, since we don't really have a need for game cameras in Honolulu.

I do this. Works well.

In your climate several months. I can put a camera out in August, collect pictures in September or October and still have three bars on the batteries with a few thousand pictures taken. My cameras all take eight AA batteries. They will all run on four but I put eight in so I don't have to change them as often when it starts getting cold out.

Here's the one I use.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Bushnell-14MP-Trophy-Cam-HD-Bandit-Scouting-Trail-Security-Camera-2-Pack/133333358278?epid=18033928119&hash=item1f0b4996c6: g:VIEAAOSwhSZcpLni

If you want to get really fancy, buy one that uses cellphone service and sends the pics to your phone. That way if it's spotted and someone takes it, you have a pic on your phone of who took it.

I think that is the one that my local Sam's Club sells. I'll check in the afternoon.

I bought two sets from the seller on ebay and paid a little more than $50 per camera on average with shipping. Smokin deal! That set will probably go for less than $120.
I paid 93.95 for the first two and 103.05 for the second set. I think shipping was $12/set