Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves • Hacker News Board

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#141

Post by francislavoie » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

Firebrand wrote: post #128

cosmotron wrote: post #73

What are people's thoughts on if this is staged? Considering the views / subscriptions are the main motivation here, it might justify the expenses poured into this project – that is, it would be quite a waste if all that effort went into the build just to have no one actually take it off the porch. If actors were used, it would explain the lack of police involvement (it's easy to say, "police weren't interested" ). A…

Mark reportedly lives in California, a two-party state. Wouldn’t he be running afoul of wiretapping laws, regardless if he’s recording criminals?

Sure, but do you really think the criminals will present him with a lawsuit... when they literally stole from him?

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#142

Post by jartelt » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

MagicPropmaker wrote: post #86

vorpalhex wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stealing (physically at least) is a stupid way to make money. A $200 game console will hardly net a thief $50. There are a lot of issues in my city with the less fortunate stealing items to make some small money - bikes are a common target. It neither really helps the thief, and it's very unfortunate for the person stolen from.

In California, thefts of under $950 are not felony crimes. And there's no more "three strikes". So you can steal packages for a living and, at worst, have to spend a week or two in jail over the course of a year. Not a bad living.

I'm pretty sure that would be a terrible living...

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#143

Post by exabrial » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

ataturk wrote: post #43

I would like people to stop doing this childish nonsense. There is a guy who does "Operation Krampus" every year and brags about putting gifts out filled with cat shit. And people think he's so funny and cool. Thing is, he could be spending his time doing something uplifting and productive instead of being a low-life asshole himself. It's not funny, first of all. It's childish. It isn't in keeping with the spirit of…

Setting up hilarious traps for thieves and volunteering/donating are not mutually exclusive actions.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#144

Post by snovv_crash » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

b_tterc_p wrote: post #56

onemoresoop wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While all we can do to revenge is sometimes a fantasy, I'd say be rational when you turn your fantasies to reality, you might end up paying the hospitalization for the package thieves.

Sounds like you hypothetically need something which is inherently dangerous (scorpions) but not purposefully dangerous to the person who opens it (drone scheduled to attack package owner). As an aside, I don’t know if it legal to ship scorpions.

What about a big box of 'roaches? And the camera of course, that would be comedy gold.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#145

Post by t0mbstone » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

cosmotron wrote: post #73

What are people's thoughts on if this is staged? Considering the views / subscriptions are the main motivation here, it might justify the expenses poured into this project – that is, it would be quite a waste if all that effort went into the build just to have no one actually take it off the porch. If actors were used, it would explain the lack of police involvement (it's easy to say, "police weren't interested" ). A…

I seriously doubt that andy sane person would glitter and stink bomb their own car.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#146

Post by jki275 » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

kaivi wrote: post #101

cosmotron wrote: post #73

What are people's thoughts on if this is staged? Considering the views / subscriptions are the main motivation here, it might justify the expenses poured into this project – that is, it would be quite a waste if all that effort went into the build just to have no one actually take it off the porch. If actors were used, it would explain the lack of police involvement (it's easy to say, "police weren't interested" ). A…

I've had the same thought when I first saw it. Some suspicious things: thieves talking to themselves, that lady throwing the box into her own garbage bin, zero attempt at disassembly or closer inspection of the box, no police involved. Also GPS is just not that good for locating anything of that size in given circumstances, and it would not have worked in the parking garage. Too many things could have gone wrong here…

GPS works quite well for that kind of location -- even in a parking garage, as long as it's not underground it's not hard to get a signal.

His design is just about right -- it's not overly complex and manages to do what it needs to do for a relatively low cost.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#147

Post by ectospheno » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

Firebrand wrote: post #128

cosmotron wrote: post #73

What are people's thoughts on if this is staged? Considering the views / subscriptions are the main motivation here, it might justify the expenses poured into this project – that is, it would be quite a waste if all that effort went into the build just to have no one actually take it off the porch. If actors were used, it would explain the lack of police involvement (it's easy to say, "police weren't interested" ). A…

Mark reportedly lives in California, a two-party state. Wouldn’t he be running afoul of wiretapping laws, regardless if he’s recording criminals?

You are allowed to record crimes in progress in two party states.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#148

Post by slig » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

auiya wrote: post #122

mankyd wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fart spray and glitter are temporary and relatively harmless. Permanent dye in someone's home are car is just being a jerk.

We sure wouldn't want to upset people stealing our belongings.

One other issue is: they're criminals, they know where they got the package from and now they're pissed.

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#149

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

weberc2 wrote: post #99

txcwpalpha wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noone said anything about sympathy. And lack of sympathy is irrelevant to legal liability.

Ok, let me spell it out: that the law protects criminals and punishes innocent citizens in such cases is indicative of a problem with the law. And yes, defending your property from theft is categorically "innocent".

[deleted]

Re: Glitter bomb tricks parcel thieves

#150

Post by t0mbstone » Tue, Dec 18, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

kaivi wrote: post #101

cosmotron wrote: post #73

What are people's thoughts on if this is staged? Considering the views / subscriptions are the main motivation here, it might justify the expenses poured into this project – that is, it would be quite a waste if all that effort went into the build just to have no one actually take it off the porch. If actors were used, it would explain the lack of police involvement (it's easy to say, "police weren't interested" ). A…

I've had the same thought when I first saw it. Some suspicious things: thieves talking to themselves, that lady throwing the box into her own garbage bin, zero attempt at disassembly or closer inspection of the box, no police involved. Also GPS is just not that good for locating anything of that size in given circumstances, and it would not have worked in the parking garage. Too many things could have gone wrong here…

GPS and phone location (via wifi triangulation) would have easily led him to the parking garage. After that, it's just a matter of driving around in the parking garage until you see the box that got thrown out of the car.