RTVX-1100C Stolen

[efam3300]

Sorry about your loss and angered with you at this violation of your home. I've been following the cellular trail camera market over the past few years and am getting ready to pull the trigger on the model in the link hopefully sometime this year. I've been waiting for prices on the cameras themselves to come down, quality to improve and the monthly fees associated with the pictures to decrease. This camera seems to fit the bill with me as I can pay a $5/month fee to Verizon and that's it. I would most likely opt for the additional $4/month for their premium service but I think $9/month is reasonable and much better than the fees many/most other companies are charging right now. The other aspect of this particular camera that I like is that pictures are sent immediately rather than in a batch at the end of the day. I believe you may also set a particular time each day for the camera to take a picture which allows you to verify that your batteries are still providing power to the camera.

I hope they catch the person/people that stole your RTV. Too bad they don't hang thieves down there these days.

216 HCO Spartan NoGlow - Verizon – Trailcampro.com

I have the HCO camera and it only lasted a year and it ate up batteries quick. I've been using a Covert G 3 for about a year with ATT which cost 20:00 bucks for additional line. Battery life is a little better with this camera but not much.I bought a Bushnell cellular about Nov 1 and went with their monthly package of $9.99 a month. I been getting about 3-4 pictures a day and battery has just dropped into the red zone. I also just ordered the solar battery option for this camera and plan to install it next week and cancel my ATT line.

 

[Shaneard]

No, you cannot. However, you can get them to go somewhere else pretty effectively with them. People who want to steal are going to steal. But they aren't complete idiots, I'm sure there are plenty of other farms around without cameras that have stuff to steal too. Plenty of cameras (and the thieves seeing them and/or knowing they are there) is, IMHO, pretty effective at getting them to go to someone else's farm to steal rather than yours. All banks have cameras, so, if you're gonna rob a bank, you're pretty much on equal footing and have to accept being caught on camera. And, sadly, most bank robberies are total desperation for drugs, they need cash in 10 minutes to get their next fix. People stealing vehicles are a bit less desperate, you have to fence a stolen vehicle, have some way to move it, etc. Requires more planning, and, therefore, more thought about which vehicle to steal. IMHO, it's pretty unlikely anyone is going to choose to steal the vehicle that has a camera sitting above it rather than the 100's of others that do not. Might be wrong, but it's served me well so far.

People on drugs don't care if you got cameras or not is all I am saying. My wife and I own a convenience store, got cameras everywhere, been robbed twice, we weren't there either time. People know we carry that may be why. The first guy that robbed us walked in with his McDonald's uniform on and nothing covering his face. The cameras helped identify him but he had already been caught, actually he was shot and killed by police about 10 minutes after the robbery in a driveway at a known drug house. We knew the guy pretty well, he would borrow my parents push mower to mow his moms yard and his uncle cooked our rehearsal dinner at our wedding. Cameras can help identify people if you have quality cameras but it won't keep people from stealing your stuff, most of the photos you see on the news you can't make out who's who and the booking photo looks nothing like the person on camera. Spend all the money you want on cameras, pay fees to have photos sent to your phone, live in fear of someone taking your stuff but people will always steal no matter what you do to try and prevent it.

 

[EddieWalker]

You can't stop a thief with cameras. If that were the case banks wouldn't get robbed.

Security isn't about absolutes, it's about deterring as many as possible. Banks still get robbed, but security deters more people from trying it since they know they are being recorded by the cameras.

 

[bspeedy]

In my opinion, 'security lights' simply light up the way in....I have zero on my place. I want them tripping and falling around and cursing broken ankles....not a nice lit up path to my door.

What I do have is several motion activated lights, a gate, driveway alarm with several points of detection (motion, magnetic probe), a good dog, and a well known propensity to burn off an entire clip of .223 into a good backstop a random times just to foster the illusion 'that guy isn't somebody to want to sneak up on'.

Majority of thieves are local, they've seen you out in you RTV and probably knew where you parked it. That where the local reputation of being a 'bit off plumb' comes in real handy.

I'm in agreement about the lights. Only light visible on my house at night is the lighted doorbell. If someone is brave (stupid) enough to venture 1/4 mile up my driveway through my locked gate they will have to stumble around in the dark or use their own flashlight.

 

[9973720wb19]

hmmm...seems like they know that you just got the RTV and were pretty familiar with the property.

 

[JESSE1]

Along with the Sheriff's department, a Special Ranger of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is investigating. There's been several similar thefts in this area. The Ranger came by yesterday to discuss the case. He was very surprised we were hit because we are out in the open and no woods close by except for a wooded lot. Most of these thefts occur on remote locations where a shop or barn is located by itself. My shop is only about 150 from the house. Thieves are getting bolder. Even if the lights help a thief, I need them to get around and the women in the house would not feel safe without them.

 

[David P]

I have the HCO camera and it only lasted a year and it ate up batteries quick. I've been using a Covert G 3 for about a year with ATT which cost 20:00 bucks for additional line. Battery life is a little better with this camera but not much.I bought a Bushnell cellular about Nov 1 and went with their monthly package of $9.99 a month. I been getting about 3-4 pictures a day and battery has just dropped into the red zone. I also just ordered the solar battery option for this camera and plan to install it next week and cancel my ATT line.

Thanks for the information on the HCO. I have a couple of external battery packs around and was planning on using one with the camera. I have a Bushnell Trophy Cam HD now and the pictures always look good. However, it has a tendency to take a MULTITUDE of pictures. I need to try changing the sensitivity and see how it does. The Bushnell and Moultrie cams are at the top of my list (I have a pair of M-80s that have always worked nicely).

Any news on the thief(ieves)? Depending upon how resolute you are, the type of area you live in and whether or not you can narrow down the time the RTV was stolen I'm wondering if you may be able to drive around the most obvious exit routes looking for security cameras in your area. Maybe one of them captured something that may be useful.