THIEF Hits Construction Site

[SnowRidge]

They make game cameras that are purely infared illumination, no flash, all digital, no sound, just pic after pic once their motion detector is activated.

They do, and Bass Pro shops carries them, as do others. Here is one model, with a rebate and reviews. I am thinking about getting one myself.

 

[sandman2234]

There is a new house construction 15 foot from my fence. 2.3 acres and he has to build on top of me...
I have noticed a ladder missing, an some stainless and aluminum pieces from my scrap pile. I guess all is not as well as it should be. Last Sunday night I was up late, and at 2am I heard a car stop on the road out front. It was a p/u and somebody got out of the passenger door and walked onto the property beside me. I quietly stepped out on the front porch, but the motion detector of my porch light caught me and as soon as it came on, they jumped back in the truck and backed out of their. I should have turned the porch light off before walking outside, but was intent on watching them.
My two labs are worthless for barking at anyone that will pet them, and only bark at the deer that walk on my property at night.
David from jax

 

[3RRL]

I am always concerned about theft. Not much I could do about it being so far away from my log home build site though.

Anyway, I'd be concerned for a come back robbery. I'm also thinking that it could be one of the contractor's people. Especially when he said he's been hit several times before. Guys like that know exactly what they want and how to take it with the least amount of evidence. Heck, they could even leave materials/tools in a spot easily (easier) accessible for the rip off?

 

[hunterridgefarm]

They do, and Bass Pro shops carries them, as do others. Here is one model, with a rebate and reviews. I am thinking about getting one myself.

SnowRidge/RonMar, That looks like something that would work. I will see if I can find one local.

David

 

[motepoc]

I second the nite-lite. Mine in my backyard makes it look almost like early morning or early evening. Plenty enough lite to be able to ID someone.

I also agree to turn in a report. My daughter had her SUV ($45,000) stolen in Atlanta about two years ago. She reported it, and we thought it was gone, either to a chop shop or accross one of the borders. But a month ago she got a call from the Tenn. State Troopers. They had her SUV in custody. The fan motor went out and the fellow went to have it fixed. DUH!!!!! She now has it back. She had just paid it off and dropped the comp insurance to save some money when it was stolen. God watches out for us in many ways. Always file a report, even when it seems hopeless.

 

[SnowRidge]

SnowRidge/RonMar, That looks like something that would work. I will see if I can find one local.

David

Since I want one for similar reasons, I just spent some time reading reviews of the various models. The one linked below gets good reviews, and seems to have all the features that people want, including range, quality pictures, and proper timing, and is reasonably priced. The only negative seems to be the lack of a camo design on the cover, which can be taken care of with paint or camo tape.

http://www.moultriefeeders.com/Game-Spy-I60

 

[Tig]

Rob brought up a point that has been mentioned to me in the past. While you may pick your contractors carefully, there is always hired help and delivery guys in and out of the site. One bad apple will know what is going on and when to come back.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Since I want one for similar reasons, I just spent some time reading reviews of the various models. The one linked below gets good reviews, and seems to have all the features that people want, including range, quality pictures, and proper timing, and is reasonably priced. The only negative seems to be the lack of a camo design on the cover, which can be taken care of with paint or camo tape.

http://www.moultriefeeders.com/Game-Spy-I60

That does look like a good one. I saw several on Dicks Sports web site and I have one of those close to me.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Rob brought up a point that has been mentioned to me in the past. While you may pick your contractors carefully, there is always hired help and delivery guys in and out of the site. One bad apple will know what is going on and when to come back.

Tig, I agree with you and Rob.

But my contractor always has the same guys working with him and they have worked together for many years. Delivery guys...I not sure about. And I also have thought about some of the brick masons helpers, not sure if they are the same all the time. It could have been someone who had been to the work site since the wire had been there for the past 3 weeks.

I thought they were taking a chance leaving the wire there and would always check on it in the evening and weekends when I went out. I guess I got so used to seeing it that I did not notice if it was there Sunday.

I went out last night and the contractor took everything with him except 2 ladders. Went out this morning and they were still there.

I had also taken a push broom and smoothed all the dirt around the house incase someone did come back I could see if they came from the road or out of the woods. No tracks this morning. Don't know if it would have helped but the powdery dirt will show every detail of a shoe.

 

[SnowRidge]

That does look like a good one. I saw several on Dicks Sports web site and I have one of those close to me.

On second thought, further investigation finds that it makes noise when it takes a night picture.

Found the info on this site, which reviews these cameras. Apparently, some of the IR cameras that also take color daylight photos move a mechanical filter when they take a night picture, and they aren't all silent about it. Some cameras have separate day and night lenses, and that type tends to be silent.

There is a lot more to this stuff than first meets the eye.

 

[MrJimi]

On second thought, further investigation finds that it makes noise when it takes a night picture.

Found the info on this site, which reviews these cameras. Apparently, some of the IR cameras that also take color daylight photos move a mechanical filter when they take a night picture, and they aren't all silent about it. Some cameras have separate day and night lenses, and that type tends to be silent.

There is a lot more to this stuff than first meets the eye.

Good point, if you look at all the deer pictures they are always looking at camera deer in the head lights look

 

[riptides]

... The builder is responsible for the wire and he "said" it would not be charged to me....

Thsi really lights my fire and I am ready for war. But the builder said he had been hit a couple of times in the past and has never had anyone come back a second time.

Is not the builder responsible for site security until the job is done?

....
I guess I am just venting here a little...this just makes me very angry! I be loading the pistols tonight and driving out late to see if I can catch someone....

One never knows what one is dealing with. So now your going to put your well being in a situation that protects exactly what? 2X4's, dry wall and wire?

Don't get me wrong here, I just had a scary situation a week or so ago too at 2am. I appreciate your anger, but I'd really be on the builder about this... especially since he has had this happen before.

-Mike Z.

 

[sandman2234]

It is a felony to steal from a construction site, so good luck, hope you catch them.
A couple well placed temporary night lights will light up the area and may be enough for the camera not to need a flash. (maybe?)
Consider putting the camera on the roof, chimney, etc, or way up a tree and secure it well. Even if they get to it, and it is secured, it may still retain the pictures as long as the sd card is intact. Been stories of people destroying the camera, only to get caught when the SD card was removed.
David from jax

 

[AlanB]

I hope your police are better then ours. We filed a police report when the folks broke through our landscaping yard, to break into the neighboring Electrical contractors yard.

The electrical contractor (freind of mine) has been hit so often, it barely phases him now.

I went ahead and called the police to do the report, the contractor was not interested, but as they had cut my locks and fences I was a little peeved.

Cop shows up, I show him all the stuff, he says

So what do you expect me to do about it......................

Kind of lost faith in that system at that moment. The only saving grace is they walked over a bunch of stuff that people that work would need, such as chains, binders etc. They only want stuff they can sell cheap and quick to buy their drugs.

On another note, we have been bringing a lot of steel to the scrap yard, and have watched them turn away folks with copper, and wire, and plumbing stuff that were not appropriate contractors. I thought that was great, the next guy down the street may not be so vigilant, but the guys we were using were not taking in materials that were probably or possibly stolen.

 

[the_sandman_454]

I am rapidly coming around to the belief that it should be lawful to shoot anyone caught committing theft of property valued at $50 or higher regardless of the time of day. They used to hang horse thieves, I think we should hang car thieves. That one should be very easy to prove. Check their name, check the registration, ask the person who owns it if said individual has permission to use it. If not, case closed. The modern "civilized" laws seem to coddle criminals and almost encourage people to continue the lifestyle. I think penalties need to become significantly more harsh to actually deter crime. Let's bring back chain gangs. Get rid of TV in jail. Give the power back to the victims instead of empowering criminals.

Maybe after a few people get shot committing these crimes, the rest will realize it's not the best line of "work" to be in. Even if not, it would sure free up space in jail and also serve to help make the areas safer.

It's hard for me to consider theft a "property" crime. Example my truck. I worked many hours of my life in order to afford that. If someone steals that truck, it could be considered equivalent of stealing many hours of my life.

I think Texas has the right idea about being able to defend property with deadly force in many situations, especially after dark. I would like to see that spread to more states. It might not reduce crime immediately, but should theoretically help in the long term by reducing the number of criminals that survive to commit more crimes.

 

[SnowRidge]

Sandman, at least in Florida you aren't force to flee from an assault anymore. Now you can stand your ground and use deadly force to defend yourself. It's small bit of progress down there.


I would like to see if everywhere.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Is not the builder responsible for site security until the job is done?

One never knows what one is dealing with. So now your going to put your well being in a situation that protects exactly what? 2X4's, dry wall and wire?

Don't get me wrong here, I just had a scary situation a week or so ago too at 2am. I appreciate your anger, but I'd really be on the builder about this... especially since he has had this happen before.

-Mike Z.

Mike,
The builder is responsible for his tools and equipment. I have a builders risk insurance policy on the house. The only problem is it will not cover theft until the house is lockable. All insurance companies are going to this type policy. I have provided a lockable gate and even though I am responsible for building materials I informed the builder if he failed to lock the gate when he left he would be responsible for anything missing. He is responsible for the wire that was stolen since my house wiring is completed.

As far as my well being to protect 2x4's...I understand your meaning. I would not risk my life for 2x4's. The pistol is for my protection if I was to surprise someone. We can all speculate as to what we would do or think we would do. I would not risk going to jail over wire or building materials but I would scare the crap out of someone. . I would not go charging in just incase someone was hiding as watchout. I would of course be on the cell phone but also if the situation presented itself I would attempt to stop them.

AlanB

I know what your talking about. You call and they take information and they more or less tell you that is all they can do.


One other note. I contacted several builders I know and several of them were hit this past weekend. All they took was copper. One builder said they kick open a door to a house under construction and only grabed extension cords. Did not bother striping wire from the wall. Just what ever is the quickest and easiest to get.


I am having a security light installed as soon as the electric company can get it scheduled. We have also decided to move the camper to the construction site and I will be staying there most nights and espacially the weekends.

 

[KYErik]

Even if you don't spend the night, leave a light on a timer on inside the camper as well as the radio playing inside (also on a timer so it goes off at 1 or 2am). This should make someone think twice about snooping around (it will seem like ther is someone in the camper).

In my area there have been several houses that were broken into during the day when most folks are at work. Thieves drove around and looked for a secluded house with no cars in the driveway and then they knock on the door to see if anyone is home (if someone answers they will just ask a made up question like "have you seen my lost dog?"), if it looks like everyone is at work and the house is empty, they kick the front door in and quickly go through the house. Leaving the radio on while they are away would probably help working people avoid this scenario.

You could also buy a cheap sign that says the area is monitored by a camera. No need to spend money on a camera- the sign will probaby work well enough on its own.

 

[riptides]

Mike,
The builder is responsible for his tools and equipment. I have a builders risk insurance policy on the house. The only problem is it will not cover theft until the house is lockable. All insurance companies are going to this type policy. I have provided a lockable gate and even though I am responsible for building materials I informed the builder if he failed to lock the gate when he left he would be responsible for anything missing. He is responsible for the wire that was stolen since my house wiring is completed.

I did not realize that about builders risk insurance. I did not do my homework. We looked at options on insurance when we were in contruction mode. Our keyword was "remodel", and not "build".

Anyway, good luck with it. Keep us posted on the progress. Maybe a few beware of dog signs will help. Or use of deadly force authorized signs. Then again, with lawyers, maybe not.....

-Mike Z.

 

[sandman2234]

I realize that western North Carolina at night is probably so quiet you can hear a Ford rust, but even so, when you put the light up, hang at least one, and maybe a couple of those cameras just under the light so they can use the light instead of having to flash. The noise probably won't be a problem that high off the ground.Plus being that high on a pole, it makes them have to work to get to the camera and if it mounted well enough they aren't going to be able to get it off on top of a pole while standing on a ladder that they are going to have to find laying around. Plus, if the camera does flash, the light may disguish it as just the security light doing a little flickering. The thing you really need is one that takes the picture and sends it to another location instead of storing it onsite, but that gets expensive.
David from jax