That Christmas Spirit - and Package Thieves.

[Tawmis]

Sometimes, life is a gas and full of glitter...

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh, yes! I heard about this on the news. A former NASA engineer rigged up a camera to catch package thieves, and a package with fart spray and a pound of glitter - right?

Here's the story on BBC, worth reading 'til the very end.

[Tawmis]

Oh, yes! I heard about this on the news. A former NASA engineer rigged up a camera to catch package thieves, and a package with fart spray and a pound of glitter - right?

Here's the story on BBC, worth reading 'til the very end.

If you've not watched the video - watch the video! He actually sets it out - and has footage of several thieves. If you don't laugh, you don't have a soul.

[Rath Darkblade]

Yep, I've watched the video. People's reactions are hilarious.

One question, though: how does he recover the phones? One person, at least, throws the package away in the bin. So how does this guy get it out of the bin?

I presume that the phones, unlike the glitter and the fart spray, cost a lot of money. I also presume that he wouldn't use four phones in every single package, so he must retrieve the package somehow. So ... I assume that he doesn't actually go through other people's garbage, 'cos that would be icky.

[notbobsmith]

It seems like in most cases, people just toss it out of their car. But yes, I'm not sure how he retrieved the phones from the one that went into the trash bin. If he went through the trash to get it, he could get into trouble for trespassing. Maybe the footage in that case was uploaded to the cloud. Or he knocked on the door and asked for it back. That would be an awkward conversation. As for the cost: he seems to have a popular channel. 5M subscribers and 30M views for this video and a sponsor. The cost of the phones is just part of his business now. I'm not sure how much money a channel like his pulls in.

[Tawmis]

Not to mention, but I will, he did say he works/worked for NASA. So... he's probably got some money.

And as for getting the phone out of the trash, and it being illegal - considering the reason it's there - the person stole his package. He could easily say, "I had a GPS on my package and it led here." Cops could verify it and walk away.
And potentially then get the very person - who called the cops on him - in trouble.

[BBP]

Nice!

[Tawmis]

Right? I love that the videos he shared were funny ones. (I'm sure he's gotten some seriously pissed off people captured on video too)

[Jules]

Hahahaha someone showed me this the other day and HOLY CRAP the best prank evar!!!

[Rath Darkblade]

Yep. I love how he shows us how he built this thing - and a prank for a good cause, too. *grumble package thieves grumble*

[BBP]

I don't get entirely why packages are left on the doorstep, as opposed to handing it over to the neighbors or taking it to a pick-up point.

[Tawmis]

I don't get entirely why packages are left on the doorstep, as opposed to handing it over to the neighbors or taking it to a pick-up point.

Because you may not know (trust?) your neighbors.
And not everyone has (can afford) a pick up spot.

[BBP]

But if you can't trust your neighbors why would you leave it on the porch? Easy pickens for that neighbor!

[Tawmis]

But if you can't trust your neighbors why would you leave it on the porch? Easy pickens for that neighbor!

It's interesting, because a lot of people (around here) have Ring or something similar, that would make identifying someone you know (like a neighbor, whether you trust them or not).

But... that said... It's easy for anyone who walks by, true. But since it is a can be lead to a federal case, you bank that most people won't steal it.

But some people, who are down on their luck (especially during the holidays) may tend to steal, just to hopefully have a present to give someone - or sell - to get money - to give someone.

Or just because they're crummy people.

[Rath Darkblade]

"Or just because they're crummy people." Understatement of the year.

Yes, some people are genuinely down on their luck. But people who just steal "for the lols"... well, they deserve to have the book thrown at them.

Stealing a package can lead to a federal case? Wow. I know that tampering with the mail is a federal offence in the USA, but I didn't know that theft is treated so severely. That's good! *thumbs up*