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Author Topic: Thieves caught on video - now what? Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 02-08-2008 03:37 PM                     OK, this is a ground floor question, but it relates to the video store I run rather than the theatre I work in. I hope I can stretch the posting rules a bit... Someone here is bound to be more experienced with this sort of thing than I am and may be able to offer some sage advice. The situation is that we've had several DVDs stolen recently from the store, and the other day this young guy was loitering suspiciously, so I captured his photo from the surveillance footage. Just yesterday, two more DVD's were stolen, and one of them was located right under one of our cameras. I went through the day's footage, and bingo - there's the same guy from the other day's footage (this time with a buddy in tow) and yes, he can be clearly seen picking up the case for the very DVD that is now no longer with us. What is the best course of action to make sure that this guy and his buddies never bother us again? I will show the staff the footage so that they all recognise him for next time...but if we spot him in the store, what is the best thing to say or do? I am thinking that showing the footage to the local police may be helpful in case other shopkeepers have reported them already, but I doubt that this will be effective in keeping them away. Any suggestions? There is a whole world of experience on film-tech.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 02-08-2008 04:25 PM                        I would call the police and show them the tape then tell them that the next time the guy enters the store you are going to call them. If the tape SHOWS him putting the DVD under his coat or something then I would ask them to arrest him, either way tell the cops you want to place a "No Trespass" order on the guy and his friend. Also, the cops will probably run the guys name so if he has any outstanding warrants or probation/parole they will take him anyway.  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 02-08-2008 06:17 PM                     Ugh!!! I just attempted to copy the footage off the hard drive onto a compact flash card. This kept generating an error so I rebooted the recorder. The cooling fans started whining and then the whole thing ground to a spectacular halt. The techs are on their way but I hope the hard drive is salvagable! Wouldn't it be just the thing if it was unfixable...we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I have the pics of the guy from the other day and now my staff know what (who) to look for. Unfortunately, the recorder powered the cameras - so no cameras over the weekend, either...  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 02-09-2008 04:48 AM                     The good/bad thing is they think you're an easy target now so they'll keep coming back-if your footage is lost you will have plenty of opportunity to get new footage.  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 02-09-2008 05:50 AM                     That is true. My hope is that next time they enter, the staff on duty will recognise them and ask them to leave. Once they are recognised, they will not be able to come back successfully and then the mission will have been accomplished. That would be the best case scenario.  |  IP: Logged Chad Souder Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 962 From: Waterloo, IA, USA Registered: Feb 2000 posted 02-09-2008 11:22 AM                     I respectfully disagree. The best case scenario would be for this guy to get arrested.  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 02-09-2008 02:48 PM                     No need to copy anything anywhere. Call the police, and let them watch the raw footage straight from the hard drive. Have you tried unplugging the power from the security DVR, leave it unplugged for at least 30 minutes, then plug it back in. See if that helps.  |  IP: Logged Michael Barry Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 584 From: Sydney, NSW, Australia Registered: Nov 1999 posted 02-11-2008 09:40 AM                     OK, here's a freaky break in the story: About half an hour ago (approx 1:30am) I decided to head down to my local service station/7-11 type place for a snack. Guess who walks in? That's right - it's our friendly neighbourhood thief! I leave first and get his car licence plates (FWIW, it's a very expensive BMW!). Then I sit it my car (a not-so-expensive Camry), start the engine and turn on the headlights, and sit and wait for him to drive out, with the intention of finding out where he lives by following him home... Well, he obviously recoginsed me too. This service station sits on a main road and has two driveways on it - one for entry and the other for exit. You can also drive around the building and leave via a back exit. He did this, and I followed him. He sped off, but I saw which direction he headed (at 1:30am, not too many cars on the road). I kept my distance, but I kept up. He turned left, then left again...until he was back on the main road and drove past the service station again! In other words, he could have taken the main, front driveway out to the street and made a left if that's all that he wanted to do. Bingo. I followed him for another 2 kms or so but then decided to call it off. I figured that I have his plates and can follow up that way. Besides, there was no way in hell he was going to pull up at his house now anyway. I am hoping that the police will cooperate in following up, especially if I can show them the hard drive footage. If the police knock on his door, maybe I can even get the DVDs back.  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-11-2008 09:47 AM                     I would think that it would be a simple matter to go to the local police station and file a charge for theft of merchandise.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 02-11-2008 06:29 PM                     quote: Michael Barry I followed him. Probably not the smartest thing to do. What would you have done if the guy had decided to confront you? Call the cops and let them handle it.  |  IP: Logged Chad Souder Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 962 From: Waterloo, IA, USA Registered: Feb 2000 posted 02-16-2008 01:04 PM                     quote: Michael Barry I followed him for another 2 kms or so I love it! Most of what criminals use against you is the idea the you're afraid of them and they can get away with stuff based on that fear because you'll be too scared to interfere. Cops around here don't pay much attention to property crimes against businesses. Maybe it's the same over there? You probably just kept that guy from ever coming in your store again. Sometimes taking matters in your own hands can spread a message that you're not afraid to do something. Think about it, how many times have you heard of a theft being foiled by some old lady hitting back with her purse or something similar? I say good for you!  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 02-16-2008 03:36 PM                  Post his pic from the surveillance cameras in your store and the windows. If that fails to discourage him, shoot the SOB the next time you see him! Make sure you kill him...ya don't want any law suits! HA!  |  IP: Logged Charles Caron Expert Film Handler Posts: 188 From: Billings MT, USA Registered: Jul 2005 posted 02-16-2008 09:42 PM                     Unfortunately, since our down-under brethern were forced to give up their firearms Michael might have to use a boomerang on the guy.... Interesting post on crime stats in AUS. link Remember,when boomerangs are outlawed,only outlaws will have boomerangs !!!  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-16-2008 10:02 PM                     The above boarders pretty heavily on political talk, which isn't allowed on the board; just as a warning.  |  IP: Logged Charles Caron Expert Film Handler Posts: 188 From: Billings MT, USA Registered: Jul 2005 posted 02-16-2008 10:56 PM                     It's a joke....or something resembling one... sorry  |  IP: Logged

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