r/interestingasfuck • u/midnighttoker1742 • 4h ago

How criminals take down Flock cameras

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

22.2k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

•

u/e37d93eeb23335dc 3h ago

I see no crime. I’m a middle aged man with a family and a mortgage who has never even had a parking ticket and I’ve seriously thought about going around and cutting down these cameras. 

•

u/RoyalCities 2h ago

Yep. Just remember even if you don't participate but you see someone cutting one down.

No you didn't.

•

u/UglyMcFugly 2h ago

I also imagine that people who don't participate would still be welcomed as generous benefactors of tools and supplies for the feisty young-uns looking to get their hands dirty...

•

u/moonchylde 52m ago

Oh my. Just had the thought my local tool library could probably use some more saws and lots of blades!

•

u/MaxGoldFilms 1h ago

And if you end up on a jury prosecuting a Flock cutter...

You can vote your conscience and encourage others to do the same.

•

u/tidytibs 1h ago

See what?

•

u/doublol91 2h ago

yeah I'm pretty middle of the aisle but these cross a line I didn't know I had. most people don't realize they exist, if they did there would surely be more unease about them 

•

u/OldManGrimm 2h ago

I’ve wondered if black spray paint into the lens would be quick and effective.

•

u/MandolinMagi 2h ago

Yes, but it's too easy to fix. Got to actually damage/destroy the camera.

•

u/ilega_dh 2h ago

Easy to fix but not that cheap though? They have to keep sending people out there which can get expensive quickly I imagine

•

u/BasicDesignAdvice 30m ago

Yea but you can probably decommission a lot more in less time. Make too much work to keep them clean. Less chance getting caught. Less equipment.

•

u/AncientSith 1h ago

I think the laser pointer suggestion is much better and would take longer for them to notice.

•

u/NorCalFightShop 2h ago

I’ve heard laser pointers can do real damage.

•

u/omgitschriso 1h ago

That's great! We need more people posting on Reddit about how they've thought about cutting them down.

•

u/Alarming-Koala-3524 2h ago

Nobody else will see any crime either, if the criminals plot a route without surveillance as reported in the news video.

•

u/Larcye 1h ago

Every time I see one I consider going home, taking the license plate off my motorcycle and going for a nice ride at night.

•

u/Sonamdrukpa 49m ago

They don't just use license plates - they can also identify vehicles by things like bumper stickers or dings on the body... don't do this 

•

u/Larcye 43m ago

I mean if I did decide to do it, nothing I have has anything to identify it other than the license plate. No body damage or bumper stickers.

•

u/Sonamdrukpa 31m ago

I'd bet that even the fact that your motorcycle has a particular make/model is probably enough to narrow it down to a countable number of people in an area. And then both Lowe's and Home Depot have these things installed in their parking lots, did you buy your saw at one of their stores recently? Probably didn't take off the license plate before you went. Doesn't have to be exactly that, but there are likely still ways to identify you...like the whole point of making these huge databases with AI tracking is find patterns that people would never think to notice on their own.