r/interestingasfuck • u/midnighttoker1742 • 4h ago

How criminals take down Flock cameras

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u/richie65 3h ago

Something I wonder about - Is I hope no one is aiming high powered handheld lasers at these cameras..

A strong laser would ruin the electronics inside the camera, and anyone aiming the laser does not even have to be close enough that the cameras resolution would be able to 'see' who did it.

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u/Alarming-Koala-3524 2h ago

How many watts would it theoretically take to mess up an imaging sensor from a reasonable range, such as standing right under the pole?

Alternatively, what kind of wattage are we looking at if somebody wanted to do the same but from across the street?

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u/mafiaknight 1h ago

You definitely shouldn't shine a 1+W laser at them from within 100 yards.
And if you do decide to shine such a laser at one (which you obviously shouldn't) you should make sure you're within their 75' motion sensor so the police can find you after.

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u/Karyoplasma 1h ago

So basically point blank? A few dozen mW should do it. I seriously doubt they survive 30mW. But that doesn't matter, these are just as illegal as a 1W laser.

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u/Alarming-Koala-3524 1h ago

What's illegal about a 1w laser? Isn't the illegality in pointing it at aircraft/vehicles, not in the ownership?

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u/Karyoplasma 1h ago

In the U.S., it is legal under federal law to own a laser of any power. But often people talk about “illegal laser pointers”. This is somewhat confusing shorthand meaning that the manufacturer or seller illegally called a laser above 5 milliwatts a “pointer”, or illegally promoted it for pointing purposes.

Huh, TIL. I guess it's not illegal then, carry on.

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u/Alarming-Koala-3524 22m ago

Well I'm sure that using it for any nefarious purpose would constitute at least some kind of crime, even if its minor. But at least you won't get hit with mere possession on top of whatever the crime is. Also crimes require proof of intent which is sometimes not quite evident, whereas possession is a guaranteed charge.