Captured unusual activity with my drone
- Thread starter StuckInTree
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MaverickMavicMark
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2019
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- 13
I had a strange experience yesterday when I was out flying my MM in an abandoned golf course. When I do get to fly it is often at this course because it's a large property without the fear of flying over people, cars or homes, etc. At most it will have walkers, joggers and the occasional golf cart on the paths. Anyway, as I was flying I was startled as a car drove past me on the old cart path - there are never cars on the path. My immediate thought was someone was out joy riding. Since I had the drone up in the air, I started to follow the car to see what was going on, but then it just got more bizarre as the driver stopped about a quarter mile away to stash something in the woods. I might have been naive, but at this point I didn't suspect anything criminal was going on, so unfortunately never flew low enough to get a good shot of the license plate. Maybe if I was flying my M2P it would have had a good enough image to make out the numbers from where I was hovering, but then again, they might have noticed it up in the air. Not getting the plates was my big regret.
After "the suspect left the scene" I walked down to see what was left behind and found a brand new Ryobi power washer with store tags still attached, so naturally I called the police. A half hour or so later they came out and I showed them the video and we walked out to look at the site. They picked up the washer, inspected the area a little bit more and called in to see if anyone or the local Lowes had reported any missing merch. You can also see in the video at the 2:20 mark, the person throws something into the field before they get back into the car, so the two officers and I walked around the field for a few minutes to see what he might have thrown, but unfortunately didn't find anything. I may go back with a metal detector later. I AirDropped the video to them for evidence (after showing them how AirDrop works), and I heard one officer tell the other how strange this call was. Glad it wasn't just me.
It certainly was one of the more exciting flights I've had! I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else had any similar experiences like this.
Video:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This video hosted by SmugMug; your photos and videos look better here.sjjc.smugmug.com
Power washer:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.
Ryobi brand sold exclusively at Home Depot
Talking about unusual activities, last week flying around I seen what looks like a police car far away where no cars where allowed and when i get closer i see about 7 persons at the end of what we call fingers. What a surprise in the water. I have no idea how that SUV end up in the water. I recorded this with my Mavic Air 2 from 390 ft high 1080p 4X zoom since i do not want to interference with police activity.
Richiebricker
Well-Known Member
I would have tried to conceal my drone behind the cover of the trees a little. I dont know how quiet the Mini is but im sure much quieter than the Mavic Air, but ya did a goog job getting out of his field of vision when he got back in the carI had a strange experience yesterday when I was out flying my MM in an abandoned golf course. When I do get to fly it is often at this course because it's a large property without the fear of flying over people, cars or homes, etc. At most it will have walkers, joggers and the occasional golf cart on the paths. Anyway, as I was flying I was startled as a car drove past me on the old cart path - there are never cars on the path. My immediate thought was someone was out joy riding. Since I had the drone up in the air, I started to follow the car to see what was going on, but then it just got more bizarre as the driver stopped about a quarter mile away to stash something in the woods. I might have been naive, but at this point I didn't suspect anything criminal was going on, so unfortunately never flew low enough to get a good shot of the license plate. Maybe if I was flying my M2P it would have had a good enough image to make out the numbers from where I was hovering, but then again, they might have noticed it up in the air. Not getting the plates was my big regret.
After "the suspect left the scene" I walked down to see what was left behind and found a brand new Ryobi power washer with store tags still attached, so naturally I called the police. A half hour or so later they came out and I showed them the video and we walked out to look at the site. They picked up the washer, inspected the area a little bit more and called in to see if anyone or the local Lowes had reported any missing merch. You can also see in the video at the 2:20 mark, the person throws something into the field before they get back into the car, so the two officers and I walked around the field for a few minutes to see what he might have thrown, but unfortunately didn't find anything. I may go back with a metal detector later. I AirDropped the video to them for evidence (after showing them how AirDrop works
It certainly was one of the more exciting flights I've had! I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else had any similar experiences like this.
Video:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This video hosted by SmugMug; your photos and videos look better here.
Power washer:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.
Actually in my opinion I found the most quiet of my drones is the Mavic Air 2. The mini is small but is loud.
itsneedtokno
I'm chillin, appreciate it though.
This is my favorite "caught on camera...drone" style video... Ever.
itsneedtokno
I'm chillin, appreciate it though.
Says who?
If you're not intruding on their reasonable sense of privacy, then there is no crime committed.
If I could have seen what he made no effort to hide, with my own eyes, there's no harm no foul.
Nowadays one of the first things you should do is look up. You never know who's watching. I also caught a guy with a "lady of the night"... I orbited them a few times (they were in his truck), got lower and closer with each pass until they took off lol.
somebody please correct me if I'm wrong
I think that's just something they do on TV and in he movies. If the data isn't on the picture you can't "enhance" it enough to read anything using Photoshop. The FBI and NSA may have this ability but I can't do it with Photoshop.
conchman
Well-Known Member
You would be surprised how close you can get without someone noticing, as long as they are not listening for it.
RayKelly
Well-Known Member
If the guy sees the video I bet he's feeling reaaaally dumb... I mean he's right there in plain view, doing the stuff he hoped no one would see... Also I can't believe he didn't see the bird. You were RIGHT THERE. I bet no higher than 100 feet... 150 maybe...wow!
Another for your viewing pleasure... I was out with my then new M2Z trying to figure out why I couldn't Yaw in RTH (Found out the hidden toggle in Go 4 on this trip) I had no purpose to "engage" target other than that is a local church parking lot, and nobody should have been in that lot. As the Zoom was new I gave the dial a twist on them.
It wasn't till a bunch of my buddies watched this video did they ask and speculate on what was going on with "them". I just said it looked like a Craigslist drop off, or husband/wife drop off for lunch....Could have been anything...but as it was I hit RTH and tested my yaw and was just happy I found the RTH yaw had been reestablished.
As a joke I went back and added the "Spy" music track 
It wasn't till a bunch of my buddies watched this video did they ask and speculate on what was going on with "them". I just said it looked like a Craigslist drop off, or husband/wife drop off for lunch....Could have been anything...but as it was I hit RTH and tested my yaw and was just happy I found the RTH yaw had been reestablished.
As a joke I went back and added the "Spy" music track
Last edited:
Donnie Frank
Well-Known Member
I had a strange experience yesterday when I was out flying my MM in an abandoned golf course. When I do get to fly it is often at this course because it's a large property without the fear of flying over people, cars or homes, etc. At most it will have walkers, joggers and the occasional golf cart on the paths. Anyway, as I was flying I was startled as a car drove past me on the old cart path - there are never cars on the path. My immediate thought was someone was out joy riding. Since I had the drone up in the air, I started to follow the car to see what was going on, but then it just got more bizarre as the driver stopped about a quarter mile away to stash something in the woods. I might have been naive, but at this point I didn't suspect anything criminal was going on, so unfortunately never flew low enough to get a good shot of the license plate. Maybe if I was flying my M2P it would have had a good enough image to make out the numbers from where I was hovering, but then again, they might have noticed it up in the air. Not getting the plates was my big regret.
After "the suspect left the scene" I walked down to see what was left behind and found a brand new Ryobi power washer with store tags still attached, so naturally I called the police. A half hour or so later they came out and I showed them the video and we walked out to look at the site. They picked up the washer, inspected the area a little bit more and called in to see if anyone or the local Lowes had reported any missing merch. You can also see in the video at the 2:20 mark, the person throws something into the field before they get back into the car, so the two officers and I walked around the field for a few minutes to see what he might have thrown, but unfortunately didn't find anything. I may go back with a metal detector later. I AirDropped the video to them for evidence (after showing them how AirDrop works
It certainly was one of the more exciting flights I've had! I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else had any similar experiences like this.
Video:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This video hosted by SmugMug; your photos and videos look better here.
Power washer:
2020 Been Caught Steal’n - sjjc
This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.
Dood!
The good: Most interesting, fascinating drone story I have ever read! Nice!
The bad: Smugjug???? WTF??? 2 seconds plays. Wait. 3 seconds plays. Wait. 2 more seconds play. Wait. Horrid. Put your video on YouTube or Vimeo. smugjug is crap and makes you appear poor.
My machine:
My Internet:
Good job getting video! Great story! Smugjug = ghetto.
D
Video played fine for me on my iPhone XMax.
Interesting.
Where is the hidden toggle. Never tried yawning on a rth.
Btw, funny post. Church parking lot. Got to be some nefarious action going on..
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