tracking stolen equipment

[Brian D. Goff]

This could be cool:

https://www.thetrackr.com

 

[Björn Benckert]

I got doubts, bought many of those things, like "Tile" and others none of them really work except around your own home.

 

[Adam Montville]

From what I can tell, this device is more for locating within a short range, such as 100ft. (lost keys and phone that you misplaced in the house). May need to get a real GPS tracker to be able to track stolen equipment. However, this would most definitely be noted in the contract that the device is GPS tracked (privacy) and would have to hide it in the case, I assume, as the real GPS trackers are larger.

 

[L. Langer]

Pretty much all the tracking/location devices depend on an established network of users from which to ping transponders from mobile phones via Bluetooth. Given that, they don't fuckin work unless your object is surrounded by other tracker users with the app installed on their phone and their Bluetooth enabled, which is not going to happen in any real world scenario. Apart from that, there are 4G tracking devices, which obviously depend on both batteries and signal strength of mobile phone networks and those trackers do not have a long enough battery life to be dependable enough for locating stolen items. There really is no solution for tracking, but you can certainly do everything you can to prevent or deter theft in the first place, such as fingerprinting and ID verification.

 

[Mark Phelan]

The owner could do a sneaky lockdown of sorts. Having a special RED app on his/her phone, if the camera was stolen, the owner could trigger a "failed" component, temporarily bricking the camera and requiring it to be sent into RED for "service". Once back at RED, the camera's true owner is notified and reunited with the camera.

 

[Daniel Reed]

I can't imagine actually going after thieves myself - I value my life more then gear!


May be better off to try and prevent casual theft in the first place:
http://www.toolguard.com/
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?149331-TIPS-to-prevent-your-gear-from-being-stolen


And...
Buy insurance and add a bag to your scheduled equipment list that covers the deductable loss such as:
Bag of Cables - no single item more then $200 - $1000


And for public space shoots...
Get someone as security or hire a cop


Most thefts I've been privy too fall under 3 catagories

Armed Robbery - Held at gunpoint:
nothings going to stop that!
Except: hire a cop when you get your day permit (in NYC its free w/ your paid permit)
Even news camera crews get robbed in broad daylight
Also note: In some places based on some film permits a cop is a requirement!

Rental Scams - usually paperwork laziness:
Verify liability coverage before handing out gear!

Burglary of unsecured gear - usually by someone you know:
Have a lock-up room with no windows and keep your gear there when not in use.
If on location indoors, get at least someone to man security - swing by local bars on Friday nights and talk to doormen!
If outdoors hire a cop with your permit - if this is a casual thing, seriously consider a security guy or at least a toolguard.
Having a security guy or a cop also presents a sense of professionalism and lends itself to folks feeling more comfortable.


I often see too many folks just rolling with a buddy or two while putting tens of thousands worth of gear on the sidewalk :eek6:

 

[L. Langer]

I was thinking more along the lines of time-bomb firmware. Set the camera's software to lock down after a certain time, in relation to the number of days that it was supposed to be rented out for, ie 3-day rental = 5-day operating window. After that, the camera won't operate without the input of a code or some other security verification. Then anyone who steals it has nothing but a brick that they can't resell or use.

 

[M.Halsell]

Problem of Stolen camera

Problem of Stolen camera

..... the owner could trigger a "failed" component, temporarily bricking the camera and and reunited with the camera.

Sounds perilously close to a rash of accidental lockouts or shutdowns that could be costly if the camera is in use in a legitimate senario. Also further burdens Red/infrastructure to be part caretaker, particularly if the camera is still MIA, client/law enforcement are attempting to track it down.

What might be plausible , if someone could work out the details would be a watermarking tool similar to the Adobe Fileopen Digital Watermark. At some point the footage will require opening, copying, transferring, editing - as most likely along that path a computer would be connected to the net, creating a forensic footprint.

The additional value point, would be to immediately downgrade the stolen camera revenue ability forcing illegal camera operator and/client to be directly impacted by the Watermark's rights management rule enforcement. The solution would potentially more complete and unified than disparate hardware based GPS solutions.
.

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

my brother in law was shooting a short down in AC this past winter, all the gear got stolen including a mac book. They used "track my mac" or whatever to find a dude in a mcdonalds across the street with all the gear

 

[Mark Phelan]

Sounds perilously close to a rash of accidental lockouts or shutdowns that could be costly if the camera is in use in a legitimate senario. Also further burdens Red/infrastructure to be part caretaker, particularly if the camera is still MIA, client/law enforcement are attempting to track it down.

What might be plausible , if someone could work out the details would be a watermarking tool similar to the Adobe Fileopen Digital Watermark. At some point the footage will require opening, copying, transferring, editing - as most likely along that path a computer would be connected to the net, creating a forensic footprint.

The additional value point, would be to immediately downgrade the stolen camera revenue ability forcing illegal camera operator and/client to be directly impacted by the Watermark's rights management rule enforcement. The solution would potentially more complete and unified than disparate hardware based GPS solutions.
.

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[Mark Phelan]

my brother in law was shooting a short down in AC this past winter, all the gear got stolen including a mac book. They used "track my mac" or whatever to find a dude in a mcdonalds across the street with all the gear

Then what happened? Would loved to have been a fly on the wall during that encounter.

You know that's Burgle 101, NEVER stop to grab a quick bite to eat after the heist.

 

[Steve DiMaggio]

log into mcdonalds wifi lol. They got the computer back and let him keep the BMCC as punishement haha for real

 

[M.Halsell]

Daniel, that was a good idea about insuring the gadget bag (expensive odds and ends). And good reminder to be vigilant abbot gear safety. Also, one could add theft thru deceptive purchase.