thief strikes, 3rd time!!!

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

i have recently been the victim of theft, several times over the last 3 months.. the first time, it was a nice riding lawn mower, unchained, disappeared at nite.

second time it was a riding lawn mower, and a push mower, chained to a tree with good thick chain. thief brought bolt cutters this time, at night . backed the truck or van up thru the back yard.

the area is in back of an office, which is out of view of the street, and unlit at night.

the police are helpless.

i am sure the thief is nearby, as the area is well hidden from the street. he knows the area and can access it without arousing suspicion, and probably does a drive-by before driving up the neighboring business driveway right-of-way entering from the rear..

is there an inexpensive lo-jack system i can purchase that would lead me to the thief in the event that he would return again and take the BAIT lawn mower?? do investigative agencies ever use these???

this is a repeat thief who has targeted this particular property in the past years, breaking in and getting coins, a pistol, and some smaller items., and returns periodically.

i am investigating a computer camera system, motion detector, with a delay of the "lights on" mode for some quality pix, but i would like to find out where the merchandise is being stored, as he seems to be upgrading his theft rate as of late, and might recover all my own and others belongings .

if you are experienced in this type of surveillance and location, i need your help.

any ideas??

appreciatively, tom

[id10t]

Setup a cheap webcam on a comptuer with a motion sensor on it. We use logitech quickcam pro 4000s here and tehy work great. Comes with the motion sensor software, takes good film in low light.

Get a pic of his smiling face, and of the vehicle, then let the LEOs do their jobs.

[lendaddy]

Only "cheap" thing I can think of is a Nextel or similar phone that has GPS tracking capabilities. Many don't know this exists, but if you have a Nextel, odds are your boss knows where you are (all the time). I have not turned this feature on on my company as I haven't thought through all the ramifications. But if you have one you or a buddy can spare for a few days.......

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by id10t
Setup a cheap webcam on a comptuer with a motion sensor on it. We use logitech quickcam pro 4000s here and tehy work great. Comes with the motion sensor software, takes good film in low light.

Get a pic of his smiling face, and of the vehicle, then let the LEOs do their jobs.

I also have this and it is nice. It won't work outdoors though unless you protect it from the elements. Mine saves video movement as AVI files(actual movies) based on motion. Outside (trees, cars, wind) may cause motion sensativity issues.

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

low light is a factor,

lots of space to conceal in trees, the outdoor a/c unit, windows of the building... up on the roof. what distance is effective?
for positive ID?

I knew that about nextel. how close is the proximity on a mapping program? what if the stash is a warehouse, storage shed, or garage?? any examples you can show??

[adomakin]

id use a black and white ccd cam with movement sensor and a seperate infra red lamp to bathe the chosen area in black light, link up to your pc or a vhs recorder.

[Kevin Taylor]

If there is a dumpster being emptied weekly........could be a scout on the truck. Or maybe a previous tenet who knows the area well.
Sounds like you are getting hit during the day?
Post Keep Out signs. Surveillance can get $$$$$$$$$$$$
Good Luck.
Hope you catch em.
Been There.

K.T.
1973 911E 2.4 MFI
1983 911SC
1965 Devin "D" - 1967 912 Power Plant

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

no dumpster or other services,
meters read by scanners,
hit at night.

do not want to change anything , as with signage, i want to be prepared when the thief returns to the scene of the crime.

[mikester]

I say go with the cameras - there are a lot of low light varieties out there and a lot of out door models as well. Wireless too...

Might help to talk to or look up some professional survellance services. Seems your first desire is to catch them in the act and I think that's the way to go considering the multiple hits.

[adomakin]

my mate was having probs with security at his workshop so we spent about $300 on a cam with a motion sensor, an infra red light, (led's) a camera switch unit (will take up to four cams-switches to whatever one is picking up motion) and a video controller (switches video to record)

worked a treat-we caught the thieving little c--t, massaged him for the tools that he stole, then gave the video to the police. beautiful.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by procon
Maybe wire the mower to a 110 circuit with a GFI, probably won't kill him but you can bet it will put him on his a$$.

I wouldn't go that route -- in the end, the theif can then sue Tom, and Tom will ultimately wind up paying fines and sitting in the jail cell for some time.

-Z.

[john walker's workshop]

tiger pit.

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by john walker's workshop
tiger pit.

LMAO. And I let this man touch my P-car?

[David]

We were getting welders stolen at work and LoJack said they could hide something in a welder, but our lawyers wouldn't let us. It would probably cost about $400 just like a car.

[Danimal16]

Originally posted by Z-man
I wouldn't go that route -- in the end, the theif can then sue Tom, and Tom will ultimately wind up paying fines and sitting in the jail cell for some time.

-Z.

Than take the GFI out of the circuit and up the amps.

[Dantilla]

If you are hit once, it may be chance. If you are hit twice, you are an easy target for some reason. figure out why you're an easy target, and remedy that.

In order for a crime to take place, you need a criminal, and a victim.
Want to reduce crime? Don't be a victim.

A while ago, a tenant of mine got his car broken into while in a parking lot of 100+ cars. A couple of days later while his car was in the glass shop, his rental car was broken into while parked in the same place. Once again, no other cars bothered but his. Don't leave valuables out in plain sight!

[stomachmonkey]

http://thespyshop.com/tracking/gps_tracking/prot.php

[kycarguy 935]

Set out some new bait and hide behind the bushes with a 30-06.

Or use a an exploding dye pack when triggered.

[sixbanger]

I've got the answer to your problem.
Why don't you just shoot them with your 356.OOOPPPPPSSS
I mean shoot them with your 357.

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

i think sws security has a radio frequency transmitter that should do the job......just like those kids i used to read about in the old "Popular
electronics" magazines when i was a yout.http://www.swssec.com/tracknet.html