Kitchen Garden Forum

No, it isn't you, but I do know who it is and want to catch him. Regretfully, one of my fellow allotment holders is helping himself to my nice new potatoes when nobody else is around. The problem is in catching this person. I staked the plot out tonight, watching this guy arrive at 9pm and leaving just after 10pm, but couldn't actually pin anything on him, at least this time around. We get this problem every year, but I just don't know what to do. There is no doubt who the culprit is, only proving it will be difficult.
Has anybody been faced with a similar situation and been successfully in catching the person. In our case, the thief is a minor member of our organising committee . Half a dozen of us are convinced he is the thief, but lots of other people prefer to look the other way and not get involved because it doesn't affect them.
Help!!

Video Camera in a suitably secure hiding place?
Can't be argued much if you get clear shot?

According to DH (computer engineer) you can get v cheap reliable cameras now.
We had the same problem last year with strawberries-the man confessed he'd been feeding his twin boys our produce!

Where can I get hold of one of these video cameras and how much do they cost?

Try your local Jessops, or browse through http://froogle.google.co.uk/froogle?q=b ... ch+Froogle?

The Screwfix catalogue (yes - I know - bizarre) often has them at a good price, as they do CCTV equipment.

Thanks for your input. the problem with most of these cameras is that you appear to have to plug in a monitor close by in order to pick up live feed. What we would need is a camera that can store information on a chip and be battery powered. Anybody know one of them?
Thanks.

Five years ago i kept losing a lot of runner beans, it only lasted for about a week.
The funny thing was the foot prints were huge, they must have been size 13 or 14, and also they were picking the high ones that i would have needed a crate to stand on to reach them.
So i must admit in some ways i was glad i never did catch them.
The other funny thing was for about a fornight i was looking at everyone's feet in the village.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

barry i'll ask dh later-he's at work now
herby was it the jolly green giant?

Nah, he'd have been after the sweetcorn

I know this is a diversion, (sorry Mr PH), but isn't the new TV advert for a well known brand of sweetcorn just wonderful?!

Have just barracaded the bed under attack from the thief with tons of chicken wire, fishing net and concrete slabs. I had to do something. I hate feeling frustrated! Still interested in info about the camera, tho!

Try Maplins on the web.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Sub_Category.as ... =6&doy=8m6

Even better, spnd a thousand times the value of the missing spuds here http://www.kgbcameras.co.uk/cameras/dvr.htm

Alternatively visit your local Army Surplus store and invest in some kit to lurk in your plot unseen.

I still cannot find a standalone system that does not need a monitor plugged in somewhere! How frustrating...