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I'm amazed by how brazen they are. The little disappointed swagger on the way back seems a little disingenuous because as soon as he rounds the car door, he seems to move back into hussle mode to get out of there. The video should give the LEOs a great view and description of them.

Keith B wrote:

JNMAR wrote:Glad it turned out benign for you Keith. By the way that was nice video quality...mind sharing make, model, and software used?

Cam is just an Airlink AICN500W in a home-built weatherproof enclosure outside, and the software is from a company called Blue Iris

How is the nighttime video?

Right2Carry wrote:

Keith B wrote:

JNMAR wrote:Glad it turned out benign for you Keith. By the way that was nice video quality...mind sharing make, model, and software used?

Cam is just an Airlink AICN500W in a home-built weatherproof enclosure outside, and the software is from a company called Blue Iris

How is the nighttime video?

I think WildBill wanted to see night time footage to gauge the cameras image quality in low or no light conditions.

I have been looking into a video survailance system such as this, and I think I may have found an answer. Thanks Keith, and great work on being a good witness.

Why would they have the driver exit and try to rob vehicles? Seems stupid, almost as stupid as robbing stuff with a loud exhaust on your car. My amateur opinion is that these guys are idiots.

Glad everything worked out, hope they catch them, may your feet heal quickly.

Generally speaking, people who attempt to augment (or replace) their regular income by stealing things from cars, aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. In other words, they're dumber than a box of rocks! (That, however, does not mean they aren't dangerous!)

Right2Carry wrote: How is the nighttime video?

Nighttime video is decent if there is adequate light, but not near what the daylight is. I have motion activated floods on the drive and if triggered, the subject in the immediate lighted area will be recognizable. If the neighbor across the alley's flood comes on and there is movement, you can see the images, but they are not recognizable by face at all. Really not much different from the images I get from the professional system I have at my office.

As for the infrared lighting, I keep it turned off. It uses infrared LED's and they glow a little when on. Also, the range on them would be OK in a dark room, but no good for outside.

I really don't have any good video of nighttime to show. Will try to get something and post it. Actually, I may have a video cat coming through the camera. Will check and post if so.

The Plano police are aggresive about crime prevention. Contact Officer Dawson in the Crime Prevention unit. They may want to place a extra patrol in the area.

sjfcontrol wrote:Generally speaking, people who attempt to augment (or replace) their regular income by stealing things from cars, aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. In other words, they're dumber than a box of rocks! (That, however, does not mean they aren't dangerous!)

These are kids (late teens, maybe early 20's.) They are bored and looking for money or loose electronic items they can use or sell to their friends. The practice is called 'car hopping'. Basically, they walk or drive around looking for open cars and take whatever suits them from inside. If it is locked, they move on unless there is something they see of value they really want. Many folks keep $5, $10 or $20 bills stuffed in their cars for an emergency. Even loose change like my wife keeps ads up to $4 or $5 easily. If they have luck of hitting even 4-5 cars open in an afternoon they can make a little extra cash and if they find a GPS or radar detector, iPod, or a laptop it is a real bonus.

Keith B wrote:

sjfcontrol wrote:Generally speaking, people who attempt to augment (or replace) their regular income by stealing things from cars, aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. In other words, they're dumber than a box of rocks! (That, however, does not mean they aren't dangerous!)

These are kids (late teens, maybe early 20's.) They are bored and looking for money or loose electronic items they can use or sell to their friends. The practice is called 'car hopping'. Basically, they walk or drive around looking for open cars and take whatever suits them from inside. If it is locked, they move on unless there is something they see of value they really want. Many folks keep $5, $10 or $20 bills stuffed in their cars for an emergency. Even loose change like my wife keeps ads up to $4 or $5 easily. If they have luck of hitting even 4-5 cars open in an afternoon they can make a little extra cash and if they find a GPS or radar detector, iPod, or a laptop it is a real bonus.

We learned the hard way to not leave the GPS attached in the vehicle. Several months ago, we awoke to the driver's side window being broken out in our relatively new car...it was not put in the garage for some reason that night. The GPS and a little cash was gone. However, I do smile a little because the GPS was password-enabled. The thief would have to call Garmin with the right info to get it to work...makes it tough to sell or pawn that way.
However, our robbery was at night....your "broad daylight" experience now makes me want to install a security camera.

I'm thinking about buying the biggest rat trap I can find and sticking it in my center console. Probably use a $20.00 bill for bait!

And there's always the old "possum in a sack" trick, but the weather needs to be cooler, wouldn't want the possum to be uncomfortable while he waits.

mctowalot wrote:I'm thinking about buying the biggest rat trap I can find and sticking it in my center console. Probably use a $20.00 bill for bait!

And there's always the old "possum in a sack" trick, but the weather needs to be cooler, wouldn't want the possum to be uncomfortable while he waits.

Yeah, but as I get older, I might have a memory lapse and forget about the rat trap in the center console.

However, I kinda like the possum in a sack thing though. If you do it during the summer, the possum will be REALLY MAD and you will get maximum effect when the sack is opened.

That brings up an idea! Set up a "door open" alarm. After a 10 second delay play a very loud recording of a vicious dog barking, INSIDE THE CAR.

Might not catch the thief, but there's bound to be DNA evidence!

Could the "Trunk Monkey" be trained to quickly handcuff the thief to the seat frame?

I would never do this myself you understand but it is Texas and I have heard of a gentleman who had his car broken into
so many times he got a nice looking briefcase and put a big ole diamondback inside. Sure nuff got boke into again and still did not catch the purps but the fence at the end of the road was taken out as well.
So I heard.

Sometimes informal justice has a poetry uniquely its own.