Help Dealing with Trespassers

[Sethmac]

So we have a trespasser problem. Over the holidays, we noticed some of our cameras were messed with. We have multiple cameras, unlocked throughout our property. We found 2 cameras turned off (1 of which was left open).

At first we thought it was one of our neighbors grandson's visiting and brushed it off, but those neighbors have not been at their property in weeks and it happened again a second time this week...again, two cameras turned off and 1 left open.

We live rough 2.5hrs from the property. Our plan is to put back up cameras mounted high on all our current cameras, and lock them all up with python cables.

We don't know all our neighbors, but I did find it strange that they only turn the cams off/erase them rather than stealing them. Thoughts on how we might handle this?

[Patton]

Leave up a 'decoy' camera you are willing to lose in one of the spots that has been messed with. Then camoflauge a camera pointing at the decoy and get a picture of trespasser.

No trespassing signs on the fence, paint the fence posts purple.

[Fishndude]

Leave up a 'decoy' camera you are willing to lose in one of the spots that has been messed with. Then camoflauge a camera pointing at the decoy and get a picture of trespasser.

No trespassing signs on the fence, paint the fence posts purple.

Wish he'd have thought of that.

[WTJim]

If you are a landowner you should already have a good relationship with the warden and have given him the affidavit he needs to file criminal trespass on your behalf. Enlighten him on what is happening. Further have you logged what times your cameras are being turned off? Might give clues to who is trespassing. Deer hunters or hog\coon dog hunters coming through at night. Secondary cameras are great idea but make sure they are well hidden. I would suggest using the computer and finding out who your bordering neighbors are and contacting them but when you bought I'm sure you already have this....

[Patton]

Wish he'd have thought of that.

I re read it three times before I made sense of 'put back up cameras mounting them high up', I thought OP was just going to move current cameras higher up. My bad!

[Sethmac]

Sorry if the wording was a bit confusing....typing while watching a 2 year old and 3 year old . We did contact the neighbors we've been able to build relationships with...one neighbor is a bit shady and haven't been able to establish any relationship with them so obviously that made me a bit suspect. We just bought this summer so haven't gotten to know the warden.

No luck on time the cameras were shut off...my dad found them and just reset the cameras. Next time, I plan to have him bring me the SDs so I can try to recover the deleted photos and potentially catch them that way too.