Hopefully you're not the sort to risk things by gunning it when the light turns yellow, pushing your (and our) luck, saving yourself a few seconds on the race to the next intersection, and sneering red light cameras. Maybe if you knew the kind of hardware in there you'd have more respect: Nikon's
D2X digital SLR. We had no idea there were pro-level shooters in there, but a New York City couple certainly did, running around the city with a cherry picker and pilfering 22 of the things, all sold at pawn shops for a total of
$88,000 $6,600 -- money that was promptly spent to further their heroin habit. These two channel swimmers, 45-year-old Anthony Cintorrino and 29-year-old Tara LaBurt, got away with this for a full month before the authorities finally caught up with them. When they were approached they said they were with the DoT... then promptly started running. They didn't get far. Crime doesn't pay, folks, even if it's for a sweet body like that.
Update: The cameras were
worth $88,000, but the couple pawned them off for a measly $300 apiece, netting a total of under seven grand. That's a crying shame.
[Via
Gizmodo]
posted July 27th 2009 5:23AM
I would assume it is because they have to insure that the picture of the car, regardless of the speed it is driving, is clear enough to read the license plate beyond a shadow of a doubt. The more people they catch, the more money they make, and the faster the camera is paid off... oh and it makes the streets safer too
Part of it because this camera has 802.11 capability most likely. The photos can be wirelessly downloaded as they are taken. Do a YouTube search and see what they to to traffic cameras.
Good for them!! Come steal some of the ones here in Atlanta. Death to "Big Brother"
When are they getting the medal of honor?
good for them, those red light cams are horrible and need to be disabled.
And if you read the whole article you would know that all of the cameras were recovered.
Actually you guys prove that crime DOES pay. Just not for those who are overly greedy. At any rate I'll stick with my boring job. Not worth the chance, AND there are hardly any traffic cameras in MN, after a court struck down the law.
They didn't sell the lenses to a pawn shop. They sold them to B&H Photo's used department. They got caught because we copied their IDs. When the detectives came, we gave them the info (and gave back all the cameras).
By the way, it was Tamron 28-75 F/2.8 lenses the NYC DOT used.
Wow, why would anyone in his right mind sell to a used department that redefines the term "lowball?"
I remember B&H wanted $300 for a Leica that later I eBayed for $2500.