Update
I found out that apparently it was just the antenna dome that was taken. This makes me think it is vandalism again (malicious interference by locals) or if not vandalism then someone who doesn't know what they are doing as far as what they can get money for at the pawn shop.
Update
You have to ask yourself...what are you doing to piss off the neighborhood?
they need this for motorcycles!
Long story, so settle down with a coffee...
Working down on the South Coast (Portsmouth). I'd set up a base station near a large DIY store. A location for the base was picked on top of a steep embankment above the entrance road (about 30 foot up) and in view of the CCTV.
Mid-morning I checked and the base was gone. Store CCTV showed a builder helping himself; good view showing guy and his van number plate.
Store security said that the local police were useless and so it proved - no interest as their "Targets" were for stopping crime, not solving it! So we did a bit of detective work ourselves. The store security identified that the guy had been buying plasterboard, so we assumed he was working locally. Plotting out the locations of other DIY stores in the area we identified the most likely districts to find him - choice of three.
The we had a stroke of luck - he reappears at the store for more material. Security tip us off, used a wagon to delay his departure from the car park until we got back to the store (they couldn't act against him because he hadn't stolen anything from them) so we could follow him. Lost him at a set of lights, but at least then we knew what district he was working in, so it was just a case of checking each street until we found the van.
Called the police again - not a great deal of enthusiasm, until we suggested that in 5 minutes we would go in with a crowbar. AH! That would be a crime - so a "Target" of stopping it can be achieved! Three minutes later we had two cars on the scene. The base and tripod were stood in the shed of the house he was working on.
Successful conviction and we recovered not only the gear but a day's survey costs.
Good Good Good. It makes me think of adding one set of strings or chains to one leg, so that they think they are getting away, then no, the unit has one more thing keeping it. Just to get better photos, and make them stay at the crime scene, for a bit longer.
N
Update
Wouldn't be great if the local police department started doing GPS stings, like they do with bikes? Plant a non-working GPS unit on the corner and see if someone tries to take it. B-)