Drone records woman trying to steal it, falsely telling police it “almost killed” her
Jun 5, 2016
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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While flying at a park in Costa Mesa, California, one pilot’s drone lost signal and when the propellers stopped spinning it fell to the ground, as it was meant to. After this, things get a little crazy
Fortunately for us, the folks at SFPV uploaded the whole video for us to check out ourselves. If there was ever a good reason for having a GoPro attached to your drone (other than the obvious), this is it.
A woman, estimated to be standing around 100ft away, walks over, claims to her phone that the drone “almost wiped me and my dog out”, then proceeds to pick it up and walk off with it.
Bearing in mind that SFPV apparently had permission to be flying where they were, that they could see exactly what the drone was seeing, and that it landed nowhere near any people, what followed after the crash just couldn’t be made up.
There is some slightly fruity language in the video coming from the lady who took the drone, so consider yourself warned.
When the pilot and friends arrived at the crash site that the drone’s GPS told them it would be, it was nowhere to be found. They checked again and saw that the signal was getting weaker, and obviously moving away.
After determining that a couple with a dog had taken their drone, they followed them to try and retrieve their stolen property. After spotting she was being followed, she decided to call the police and make up a story that the drone landed 5ft away (that later became 4ft) and nearly hit her.
That’s her, circled in the video screenshot above from when the drone hit the ground. Definitely standing 4ft away, wouldn’t you agree? No?
Getting more and more hysterical as the recording continues, it culminates with the threat “If you come near me, one more step, I’ll f**king kill you” hurled towards the drone owners.
A few seconds later, the police show up, who assess the situation very quickly.
SFPV say that the goal of the video is not to shame the woman, but to illustrate that that no matter how safe and responsible you are, “there will always be irrational people out there who will seek out conflict with drones and drone pilots”.
The next time you’re out with your drone, don’t be so quick to turn off its camera. It might just record the footage that prevents a huge potential legal headache.
I don’t really need to ask whether you guys think this lady was in the right or not, but let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[via FStoppers]
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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15 responses to “Drone records woman trying to steal it, falsely telling police it “almost killed” her”
Don’t stop being enthused about your hobby.
Votes for HiLIARy.
Woman definitely had a screw loose. At least she was not as nutty as this one…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elnENHrliKc
I would have pressed charges of attempted theft of property. That’s only way people like that learn..
Add in felony harassment for the threat to kill.
I like how the whole video is designed to show ultimate pity on the knuckleheads that crashed their drone. The lady was being stupid and overreacted but they were flying fast and low that’s a fact and you simply don’t do that in a place where people are walking. An abandoned airfield or other unoccupied field would be best. It was really annoying to see the subtitles about it being a lifestyle, it’s a freaking hobby and you need to do it safely. Don’t assume it can’t or won’t hit someone, if it had been any closer it would’ve hit someone.
“They’re flying fast and low and that’s a fact”… Can you actually back this up?
In those “knuckleheads” defense, they acquired permission. And it seemed like a mechanical failure (which happens) than those people “assuming” it can’t or won’t hit someone.
I fly these drones in designated airspace for them and still people come through walking in the middle of an airfield. I once had a child try to chase my drone as I was going through race gates some people just feel that regardless if the place is designated for the hobby, if they get hit, they try to place all responsibility on the pilot. Race drones are incredibly loud and very visible. If the woman felt that she was in danger, she should not have walked near or in an active airfield.
Lady should have to go the city & get a permit for having a child cuz she has no business having kids if she’s that nutty also shouldn’t be walking in a designated drone airspace what an idiot you guys did nothing wrong she’s the retard
I hope she went to jail.
She crazy can we have location and name so her friends know to stay from her lol. Good for you guys post it on youtube
I can’t stop laughing! Some people just need crashed in to. Lol she needs more meds.
I actually find this video very disturbing. This is a woman who has spent her lifetime getting her way through fear and manipulation- note the very innocent, well-mannered, grateful and sometimes panicked, helpless woman speaking to the park ranger and officer followed by extremely degrading and disrespectful, even trashy communication with the hobby-ists. It is a well oiled and refined mechanism that she can switch on and off moment to moment. I’m sure the hobby has been annoying her for some time and she wanted to make an example of these guys by bending the truth quite a bit. I’m sure she believed that lying would result in the ultimate good; getting the guys banned or safer flying practices but she may just be a narcissist who needs to feel important and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a habit in her life. Honestly, I’m quite impressed with the officer, who had exactly Zero information except for the words of a scared woman claiming she almost died, and his ability to very quickly and accurately assess the truth of the matter. Kudos to him and the adventurers for staying calm despite her hysteria! Thanks for sharing, I learned a lot.
This woman is an absolute idiot she told so many lies her nose was poking the policeman in his eyes if she was taxed on brains she’d get a refund
I think this is a warning for all drone enthusiasts. As much we loved the hobby, it is important to understand and respect the fact that a lot of people do not. I think the main thing is not having enough information, and the little information available showed by media does not help, and also some hobbists using drones, for example, filming the neighbor sunbathing and posting on youtube like a trophy does not help. This video helped me to see how in this conflict of generations, people decide to take justice on their own hands, like the guy that used the shotgun to hit the drone that supposedly was hovering over his property.