Feedback Wanted: Security Enclosures

2018/12/19 09:41

Hi all,

If you could design and build a security enclosure for a camera trap what would you do?

I am interested to hear any and all thoughts on security enclosure specifications people might have, mods people have made for their exisitng enclosures and pros and cons that you might have found about specific types when using them in the past.

If anyone has come across a winning design please let me know!

I am also interested to hear about what methods for securing enclosures to trees or the ground have been tested and used and what sort of locks and security fixtures people have used too.

Thanks,

Sam

euanritchie

2018/12/20 04:37

In reply to Soseccombe

Hi Sam,

Please see https://theconversation.com/how-to-stop-the-thieves-when-all-we-want-to-... and http://www.publish.csiro.au/am/am12014

All the best,

Euan

Vikram Aditya

2018/12/20 05:40

Hi Sam,

I've had a lot of issues with camera traps being stolen or damaged, or in some cases the data cards stolen but cameras left intact. I imagine there is no foolproof method but in my experience, having a metal case with bolts at the front to tighten and metal bars behind, with which the whole device can be locked to the tree or post helps. We've used this for our Cuddeback camera traps. This way, there is no way for people to damage or steal the camera except by cutting down the whole tree, so chances of damage or stealing are greatly reduced. However, this increases the weight of each camera with accompanying metal box to more than twice, so it might be difficult if you have to carry each device.

Vikram

Rob Appleby

2018/12/21 01:41

Yep, security is a massive problem. We just lost a bunch of cameras recently despite sturdy security boxes etc. Euan's links provide some very useful perspectives on what's been (or is being) trialled to reduce theft and damage. I had an idea of using something like the dye cartriges used in some shoplifting prevention methods (the cartridge bursts if an attempt is made to remove it - http://www.losspreventionsystems.com/alpha-ink-tag-an-anti-theft-device-...). Obviously, the idea would need to be adapted to get it to work properly on a camera, but the principle does seem to deter shoplifitng (apparently). Tamper sirens might also be a deterrent in some cases.

As Paul Meek mentions in the Conversation article Euan linked to, when it comes to motivations for stealing and damaging camera "...there is no intellectual evaluation of the activity". A few cases probably relate to drug growers or other nefarious activities. Code locking, even when advertised, doesn't seem to prevent theft, and expecially doesn't prevent damage. Trying to get to the human behaviour itself could probably help us understand how to prevent it. For example, there are growing privacy concerns (see another article from Paul: https://theconversation.com/the-privacy-problem-with-camera-traps-you-do... and also: https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/camera-traps-designed-for-animal...).

Close collaboration and discussion with local communities in the areas of cameras is therefore a good idea in some cases, especially if it alleviates privacy concerns.

I also think that camouflaging cameras probably has the most merit, as trying to make a grinder-proof (or stronger) security box seems ultimately problematic, or tracking stolen cameras only adds to the cost (even though trackers are coming way down in price). Disgusing cameras as something no one is interested in or notices (e.g. a rock, a tree branch etc.) is better than trying to stop theft/damage in my opinion. I once made a camera that looked like a limb of tree (basically I put it inside a PVC tube and covered it in bark) and I am pretty confident no one ever saw it.

Anyway, a very useful discussion so thanks for posting. Looking forward to reading other ideas.

Cheers,

Rob

ollie.wearn

2019/02/05 11:24

Hi Sam

I'd also be interested to hear of good solutions here. When we recently surveyed camera-trappers from a fairly broad cross-section we found theft to be a major constraint on current camera-trapping (2nd only to cost, which we all know is a big one). There needs to be some revolutionary changes in how we do things... @Rob Appleby points to some avenues that certainly need more extensive testing. My own vote is with in-built tracking, but for now that remains difficult for the many areas which don't have phone/Wi-Fi connectivity.

FWIW, I attach here what we've used in Borneo, fairly successfully. The custom case cost ~£10 to make in a local shop, and was based on a widely-available design. The whole thing is bolted to a steel post (~£10 also), which is sunk into the ground and concreted. We had one pulled out with a car and stolen, but ~80 other locations which were fine. I'm sure this wouldn't have worked in other places though (e.g. with the determined thieves @Redfoxmeek and others in Australia have reported on).

Ollie

Soseccombe

2019/02/13 09:32

Hi Eaun, Vikram, Rob and Ollie,

Thank you for your replies and for providing some excellent food for thought.

I think that trying to understand the human motivation for theft is a really valuable insight.

German Illera in Odzala showed me a number of his heavily up-armoured security enclosures and when people couldn't remove the cameras they smashed them through the apertures. In final desperation he started putting up laminated signs along the tracks that led to the camera sites with a picture of the camera on them and a gorilla.

Since then very few cameras were taken or damaged. It seemed that people in the jungle where he was working didn't want to be caught on the cameras but the signs warned them and allowed them to take other routes.

I was amazed that this worked!

Thank you all. Any other thoughts or stories are greatly appreciated.

Sam

Freaklabs

2019/03/23 00:46

I think that tracking would be an interesting way to go, but the issue is that if you do discover who takes it and the person is dangerous, how can it be handled. I guess it's more of a game of deterrents and understanding why people take the cameras. If they just think they are security cameras as the post above, that's an interesting observation. Making them more obvious is a really creative solution too. In the solar industry, they have one-time use screws and bolts also to prevent solar panels from being stolen.