Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Trail Cameras => Topic started by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 07:51:43 AM

Title: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 07:51:43 AM: Hello, bought my first cell camera and have a question. This brand has gps in it, I can see on a map where it is, which is nice if some dirt bag steals it. My question, do you guys with cell cams see less theft because of the gps? Also, how many of you peeps with gps in their cameras have had them stolen and then you were able to track them down and confront the thief??
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Sundance on January 22, 2025, 08:48:08 AM: Haven't had one stolen yet, no SD cards in mine and plenty of pictures of other hunters. I'd guess it cuts down on theft when people see the antenna sticking up.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 09:06:34 AM: Not stolen but removed from tree, sd card stolen, batteries removed and camera tossed in a mud puddle. So GPS didn’t help me, I just got lucky and found it.

Oh and yes this was on my private property.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 09:08:56 AM: Quote from: Sundance on January 22, 2025, 08:48:08 AM
Haven't had one stolen yet, no SD cards in mine and plenty of pictures of other hunters. I'd guess it cuts down on theft when people see the antenna sticking up.
I do like that I don’t need an SD card, I was hoping a halfway intelligent thief would not like the antenna and act like a deterrent. I’m guessing the real dumb thieves would most likely just destroy the camera instead of steal it.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 09:09:44 AM: Quote from: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 09:06:34 AM
Not stolen but removed from tree, sd card stolen, batteries removed and camera tossed in a mud puddle. So GPS didn’t help me, I just got lucky and found it.

Oh and yes this was on my private property.
so without the batteries the gps doesn’t work??
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: BreezyBear on January 22, 2025, 09:14:20 AM: GPS won't actually help unless they're dumb enough to turn it on once they've stolen it.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 10:16:24 AM: Quote from: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 09:09:44 AM
Quote from: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 09:06:34 AM
Not stolen but removed from tree, sd card stolen, batteries removed and camera tossed in a mud puddle. So GPS didn’t help me, I just got lucky and found it.

Oh and yes this was on my private property.
so without the batteries the gps doesn’t work??
correct
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 10:19:28 AM: Ok, makes sense. Well, hopefully the thieves are just barely smart enough to leave the cell cameras alone..
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 10:59:44 AM: I’m pretty sure I have my vandals on camera just not the day they trashed it. Once they knew it was there they came back a few days later and apron behind the camera.

People suck.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: duckmen1 on January 22, 2025, 11:24:33 AM: We had one stolen on December 23rd. Picture was taken of an individual. Camera quit sending test pictures so went out and sure enough it was gone. Battery was thrown out on the ground. Have a pretty good idea of who the individual is. This was along private property in Pierce County close to a “creek” just inside the timber about 20 yards. Had an individual seen on the property prior tending to an issue and although no negative confrontation happened at the time feel it is currently the same individual who took the camera as it is very uncommon for individuals to come on the property. Feel there is a good chance he will strike again in the area so may be somehow resolved in the future. This was a stealth camera cell camera. If the individual reads this please bring back and leave at property at front gate or the house and all is settled. Ya know who you are as I believe I do too.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Sundance on January 22, 2025, 12:49:38 PM: Quote from: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 10:59:44 AM
I’m pretty sure I have my vandals on camera just not the day they trashed it. Once they knew it was there they came back a few days later and apron behind the camera.

People suck.

This was my concern, they spot it and return at a later date from behind to disarm/turn off the camera. I understand the reasoning of stealing the camera if they will get a benefit out of the SD card/pictures, but when all your accomplishing is screwing over the camera owner, well I guess some people are just jerks.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 01:29:19 PM: Yep many of these people are coming in and out under the cover of darkness, camera trips, infrared lights come on and they see the camera location. Come back later and trash the camera. I have had multiple cameras trashed. All on private property. I’m sure that increases the risk of getting them trashed, they don’t want to get punished for trespassing so to cover that crime they commit another one of damaging property as well. I’m sure they aren’t stealing the cell cameras to use them, they are stealing them to cover their tracks and give themselves free rein of the property until I get them replaced. Hunting season and especially shed hunting season are when I see the most trespassing and damage.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 22, 2025, 04:47:03 PM: Damn, that is just such BS! I bet when you retire it will be a goal of your to catch them, go complete Rambo on their butts.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Cougartail on January 22, 2025, 05:01:49 PM: Quote from: Rainier10 on January 22, 2025, 01:29:19 PM
Yep many of these people are coming in and out under the cover of darkness, camera trips, infrared lights come on and they see the camera location. Come back later and trash the camera. I have had multiple cameras trashed. All on private property. I’m sure that increases the risk of getting them trashed, they don’t want to get punished for trespassing so to cover that crime they commit another one of damaging property as well. I’m sure they aren’t stealing the cell cameras to use them, they are stealing them to cover their tracks and give themselves free rein of the property until I get them replaced. Hunting season and especially shed hunting season are when I see the most trespassing and damage.

I have a very poor opinion of shed hunter now. They seem to hate trappers.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Pinetar on January 22, 2025, 05:16:10 PM: I know a guy that had his house robbed. They stole all his guns, (no safe) TV, stereo, 2 cell trail cams and lots of other valuables. About a week later one of his cell cams pinged and the cops busted the thief sitting in his car in Safeway's parking lot playing with one of his cams :tup: He eventually got everything back but some jewelry and the shotgun that he had cut down.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: JakeLand on January 23, 2025, 08:21:33 AM: Buddy just got one stolen and it pinged in a pawn shop over in Wapato because they bought it from the thief and turned it on and bam he drove up there and got it back the shop wanted him to pay for it but being in possession of stolen property they ended up just handing it over
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 23, 2025, 10:23:31 AM: Quote from: JakeLand on January 23, 2025, 08:21:33 AM
Buddy just got one stolen and it pinged in a pawn shop over in Wapato because they bought it from the thief and turned it on and bam he drove up there and got it back the shop wanted him to pay for it but being in possession of stolen property they ended up just handing it over
That is awesome!
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: IFunk on January 23, 2025, 02:22:50 PM: What bothers me about them is the huge @$$ antennas. I want to start using them, but they look so vulnerable. And they don't fit in the security box.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: ShedHead20 on January 23, 2025, 02:53:44 PM: Quote from: JakeLand on January 23, 2025, 08:21:33 AM
Buddy just got one stolen and it pinged in a pawn shop over in Wapato because they bought it from the thief and turned it on and bam he drove up there and got it back the shop wanted him to pay for it but being in possession of stolen property they ended up just handing it over

Wapato?? No surprise that pawn shops in the Yakima Valley and the Rez willingly (and sometimes probably knowingly) take stolen property. They wouldnt have much business if they didnt.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 23, 2025, 04:02:15 PM: Quote from: IFunk on January 23, 2025, 02:22:50 PM
What bothers me about them is the huge @$$ antennas. I want to start using them, but they look so vulnerable. And they don't fit in the security box.
Go ahead and order two or three of those antennas off of amazon. They get broken off once every few months on mine by deer and elk rubbing on them.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: jasnt on January 23, 2025, 04:32:21 PM: I worry about theft too. I keep mine on private. Not trusting it on public. I’m running reveal 3.0 and love em
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 23, 2025, 04:34:33 PM: Quote from: IFunk on January 23, 2025, 02:22:50 PM
What bothers me about them is the huge @$$ antennas. I want to start using them, but they look so vulnerable. And they don't fit in the security box.
I bought the box with mine, but it’s not as strong as the box I built.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: LDennis24 on January 23, 2025, 04:37:54 PM: Quote from: trophyhunt on January 23, 2025, 10:23:31 AM
Quote from: JakeLand on January 23, 2025, 08:21:33 AM
Buddy just got one stolen and it pinged in a pawn shop over in Wapato because they bought it from the thief and turned it on and bam he drove up there and got it back the shop wanted him to pay for it but being in possession of stolen property they ended up just handing it over
That is awesome!

:yeah:

That's hilarious! You guys who run cameras should buy tracker tags regardless of them having a GPS. Take the camera apart and hide it inside somewhere. Then reseal it so the thieves don't know it's got a tracker.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: kodiak06 on January 23, 2025, 10:02:46 PM: They get stolen just as easily as a regular cam...
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: JakeLand on January 24, 2025, 04:28:14 AM: The thing that gets me is I have SPYPOINT cell cams for trapping especially nuicance jobs and all mine have a map feature as long as I set it up it shows me exactly where it’s at so if it gets stolen and they turn it on I know to the T exactly where it is and they’re absolutely worthless to a thief as you can’t re subscribe that camera without me knowing
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: Cougartail on January 24, 2025, 05:45:11 AM: Quote from: JakeLand on January 24, 2025, 04:28:14 AM
The thing that gets me is I have SPYPOINT cell cams for trapping especially nuicance jobs and all mine have a map feature as long as I set it up it shows me exactly where it’s at so if it gets stolen and they turn it on I know to the T exactly where it is and they’re absolutely worthless to a thief as you can’t re subscribe that camera without me knowing

If you're out stealing cameras I'm betting your IQ is on the shy side of that of a bale of hay.
Your mind probably has been in an altered state for years also.

You don't see rocket scientists out stealing from others.
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: JakeLand on January 24, 2025, 07:39:39 AM: Quote from: Cougartail on January 24, 2025, 05:45:11 AM
Quote from: JakeLand on January 24, 2025, 04:28:14 AM
The thing that gets me is I have SPYPOINT cell cams for trapping especially nuicance jobs and all mine have a map feature as long as I set it up it shows me exactly where it’s at so if it gets stolen and they turn it on I know to the T exactly where it is and they’re absolutely worthless to a thief as you can’t re subscribe that camera without me knowing

If you're out stealing cameras I'm betting your IQ is on the shy side of that of a bale of hay.
Your mind probably has been in an altered state for years also.

You don't see rocket scientists out stealing from others.
very true !
Title: Re: Do cell cameras get stolen less?
Post by: trophyhunt on January 24, 2025, 09:26:24 AM: Agree, low IQ’s. I wonder if I write on the camera box “gps enabled”, if that would give them a slight deterrent? Worth a try.