Laytonville Residents On Alert After Guerrilla Drone Pilot Seen Flying Over Rural Properties
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The drone pilot was described as a man with short dark hair not wearing any sort of uniform. His vehicle did not have any logos that identified him as working in an official capacity.
We reached out to PG&E North Coast spokesman Deanna Contreras wondering if the drone pilot could be attached to a series of equipment inspections PG&E is conducting throughout the region.
After we described what Tiffany Bruce’s employee witnessed, Contreras said the behavior that was witnessed was not that of a PG&E contracted drone pilot. PG&E requires their employees in the field to wear bright colored vests, long sleeves/pants, work boots, and hard hats. They also wear ID badges.
Another indication that the described drone pilot was not a PG&E contractor, Conteras said, is the fact he was alone. All PG&E drone pilots work in pairs, one as a pilot and the other as the spotter.
We spoke with Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall about the utilization of drones for criminal exploits. He said that there have been numerous circumstances of drones being used to case cannabis properties, “getting the lay of the land before they commit a burglary.”
“Ukiah Police Department got in a pursuit with someone with several pounds of cannabis and found a drone in their vehicle,” Sheriff Kendall told us. He explained that the drone has become part of the criminal toolkit providing an aerial surveillance platform.
Regarding residents who might feel compelled to shoot down a drone, Sheriff Kendall insisted residents abstain due to the batteries within drones being prone to explode and catch fire, creating a wildland fire risk.
Bruce described her motivations to warn the Laytonville community of the suspicious activity: “When someone is standing at the bottom of your driveway getting a drone and then running across the highway getting in their vehicle and leaving, you don’t really feel comfortable or safe.”
She knew that “there are thieves that use this technology to case land, I wanted my community to be aware. We look out for each other up here.”
She told us that her post on the Laytonville/Branscomb Community Facebook page actually garnered someone else who said, they “saw a black minivan the next day around the same time just a quarter mile down the road.”
If you are in Mendocino County and suspect a drone above your property could be being used in a criminal manner, please contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 463-4086. If you are in Humboldt County, call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.
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Practice up on your trap shooting.
I had a drone flying my property a few years ago, it was the third week of September. During its second visit I responded with a semi auto 12ga. shotgun. Never been back.
Just a reminder that it is a violation of federal law to shoot at a drone. Unless they’ve changed the law recently, it’s treated the same as if you were shooting at an airplane and can bring serious charges. Local sheriffs might not mind you shooting at them much but the FAA takes it seriously.
That’s assuming someone at the federal level is willing to bring charges of course, which is more likely if you shoot at a drone that has a legitimate purpose to be over your property than someone trying to rip you off.
Went outside to take a leak about 12:30 am this morning, looked up and saw a drone flying slow and low over rancho, maybe they will raid today, who knows?
Against the law to shoot down a vehicle that is essentially trespassing and spying illegally. So ridiculous. ALL drones should be shot down, and the nosey ass weirdos who like to fly them should all be put on a list like sex offenders.
Had one fly above our property in SoHum last summer, no doubt it was thieves. Our property is very remote and even being close enough to get a drone up here requires trespassing.
I’m not arguing for the drones, just pointing out what the law says. I agree that it seems ridiculous that you can’t control the near airspace above your land but that’s the law.
But, just theoretically, does anyone have any reccomendations for an anti-drone 20 gauge load?
It doesn’t really matter, what you use or if you hit it as long as it sees you shooting at it. I sure wouldn’t want to try to rob a place that the property owner comes out blasting instantly. And if for some reason your wrong and it’s not a rip offs drone, just deny the hell out of it. They barely put murders in jail, let alone someone who may or may not of shot near a drone on their property.
You are forgetting one important part — the drones have cameras on them that record images remotely. It’s the whole reason for them in the first place.
Very diplomatic Mike.
Load your own with rock salt and sand. It’s very effective against drones. They have to be relatively low but the rock salt causes enough damage to make the person that owns it think twice. If they are low enough the sand gets in all the little crevices and destroys the electrical circuits, disabling it almost instantly. Don’t have to worry about any metal bb’s landing on neighboring property if you have neighbors close by and don’t have to worry about exploding batteries causing fires.
Tried and true method. Had to deal with some annoying neighbor kids always flying my property with their drones. Needless to say, I think the parents quit buying them drones or they have learned to hassle easier targets.
Only use an older shotgun you don’t really care about, the sand will ruin the barrel. I basically have a dedicated “drone hunter” now.
There’s a number of the better quality drones that have a “go home” GPS function so even if you spray painted them, that doesn’t matter, it goes back to it’s base, wherever that is. The cameras are just a side function and not necessarily critical for it to go back to it’s owner to transmit data, or nowhere at all. But does certainly mean that someone is within a mile or two of you. Go chase it, or shoot it down and listen for vehicle noises shortly after. Sound carries far and well in our valleys.
How about a net gun?
https://lifehacker.com/build-a-drone-catching-net-gun-out-of-basic-plumbing-pa-1792733924
Tried DIY from YouTube (https://youtu.be/EeFdRVWYFkw) not bad for weekend project – then my workplace bought from https://www.net-gun.com works like a charm
full choke shotgun for geese, maybe 50 yards or so. sniper it with a rifle if farther away. Wear a facemask or hide during shooting.
Taking a chance on shooting them down and causing a major wildfire, stop and think twice before becoming that Special Person who makes that devastating mistake, Drones have battery packs that can burst into fire if shot down!! Remember People what Wildfire Damage impact will have.
Isn’t all this technology making life better and better?
Well since I live off the grid where power lines don’t exist, I will definitely shoot any drone down flying anywhere over my property. Far as the legality of it, it’s trespassing . Far as it lighting a fire, I’ll be right there when it hits the ground to pump a few rounds into what’s left of it with my shovel handy to give the scraps a proper burial. We’re in California, they don’t arrest you for 20 pounds of heroin or robbing houses, I’ll take my chances lol
No, it’s not “trespassing”. You don’t own the sky. The drone pilot can fly anywhere he or she pleases as long as they follow FAA regs.
(1) California Civil Code section 1708.8 – Trespass. California Civil Code section 1708.8(a) provides, “A person is liable for physical invasion of privacy when the person knowingly enters onto the land or into the airspace above the land of another person without permission or otherwise commits a trespass in order to capture any type of visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of the plaintiff engaging in a private, personal, or familial activity and the invasion occurs in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person.”
(2) Private Nuisance. (Civil Code section 3481) A cause of action for private nuisance may arise against unwanted drone usage. The nuisance in this case, is the noise of the drone – the whirring of the engine or blades – disrupting the quiet use and enjoyment of your premises.
(3) Injunction. (Code of Civil Procedure section 525-526) An injunction is a writ or order requiring a person to refrain from a particular act.
(4) Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting Harassment. (Code of Civil Procedure section 527.6 (a)(1)) A person who has suffered harassment as defined in subdivision (b) may seek a temporary restraining order and an injunction prohibiting harassment.
lol, Open Season has begun. 😉
Thanks, Kym.
I guess drone pilots can do what they wish. I do own the sky above my place. Fly by and find out.
I fly my drone almost every day without being noticed, and all my neighbors are growers, shooting lipo battery powered aircraft down in grassy wildland is a good way to burn us all down, find the pilot most likely in an open landing zone near a roadway or at a nearby residence. No shotgun is going to touch a drone with the altitude they can easily operate at anyhow.
You think it’s funny get a life and quit playing with toys and being a creep
Keep your drone on your own property. You have no business flying over your neighbors property and looking around. One of my neighbors did that and I followed the drone all the way home and told him if he flew it again over my property that drone was not going to come home.
Where did I say I fly over land that I don’t have permission to do so?, all I said is that none of my neighbor’s notice when I do. Imagine what I can see from my own airspace anyhow, another thing, I use my drone to teach my children how to fly, I also use it to inspect tall trees, maybe someday I might see a nefarious drone and with my drone skills I can chase him down and stop such casings of such joints. Instead of sit helplessly.
You ever heard of goose guns? They are made for high flying objects. And if that doesn’t work, my 30.06 will.
Actually, flying a battery-powered aircraft is the greater danger for starting fires. All things mechanical and electronic malfunction at some time. One of my rifles will shoot accurately to 5000 feet if I can manage to hold it properly which I never can. The best I can do with my 12 gauge is about 300 yards with a 1 ounce slug although the slug will maintain lethality at 400 yards with a crazy wide shot pattern, 60 feet or so. My .17 is crazy-fast for a rimfire and lethality is maintained at 200 yards. But fly high, we will just have to do a little drone fighting in the sky or I can wait until it returns to its owner.
“Employee”. We used to work with our friends and neighbors. It’s hard to muster up much sympathy for the corporate model…
The “employee” is a worker that takes care of the propertry. He has been doing fire prevention. The elderly man who owns the property can’t take care of it himself.
Thanks for your input though.
Farce can’t be wrong, no, he is all knowing. Eyes in the front and back of his head. Bring in the National Guard and Feds during the whole greenrush, save the environment. Now clean legal water stored grows are the epitome of evil. And his reply will be, back in the day when we were all on CB’s watched each other’s backs and grew 10-20 pounds of larf in woods under camouflage and sold it for 4800 is the way it should be. I agree, we should also not have a heroin or speed problem, like back In the day, oops I guess it was a problem then too. Both way out of hand. Actually like Farce a lot, except his all knowing righteousness.
“When someone is standing at the bottom of your driveway getting a drone and then running across the highway getting in their vehicle and leaving, you don’t really feel comfortable or safe.”
Want to feel “safe”, don’t grow dope.
And don’t have vehicles or structures or things people can steal.
Problem Solved….
https://www.perfectjammer.com/drone-signal-jammers.html
Didn’t see a price anywhere on that site that comes even close to a few rounds.
what a ripoff!!.. I can do it with a 99$ SDR from digikey a 50 buck antenna and a raspberry pi3+,
course is a 10k$ per day fine to operate such a beast and its impossible to license a jammer for legal operation..
and most radio hams will quickly detect you locate you and track you down just for the fun of seeing the FCC assess the above fine… and LOTS of Hams(FCC licensed radio amateurs) around 🙂
fellow traveler
That whole set up you can put underneath your carseat and deploy. But it would be a shame to waste a good Rasberry Pi on doing evil. But people are using set ups to watch us, and we’re all arguing about FAA fines, while the entertainment promoters of NFL superbowls make entire sky shows with these. Police drones are going to be higher to get correct GPS data and escape. The underworld of folks are just going to say fuck off and fly right in, and then what do you do about it? Shoot it or chase it.
Drone buzzing your face? Give the drone camera the finger. Then pop a cap. A water balloon or a dirt clod works as good as anything else.
Don’t grow weed to feed peoples addictions and fantasies of “medical treatment,” you’ll never have to worry about it. Simple. You people need respectable occupations. You were all criminals until only recently. The fickle sheeple who line up to vote -still believing in their mythic “electoral system” even after the November coup- will turn again on you some day. Mask cultists are like that. You will all be criminals again. So I just sit back and laugh as you quake in your hippie moccasins at every little security intrusion. Lol
You need serious help. Or atleast a class in logic, and another in psychology.
Mr. Right
We don’t grow to feed medical needs anymore. We grow for recreational purposes. For people that want to get blasted off of super high THC premium sungrown cannabis. Where have you been? Hiding under the guise of medical was the 19th century old fella.
This is the 21 century and people want to get blasted off safe but strong herb and 100mg chocolate bars! You should go support your local recreational dispensary and see what the future looks like.
It looks expensive and without smell. Have fun with that!
I don’t grow but I had a guy walk on to my property one day while controlling a drone. I told him to get off of my property and if I saw his drone again I would shoot it down. He argued he had the right to fly the drone. I said but not from my property or in my airspace. He said that he would call the police if I shot at his drone. I said, you don’t have to do that, I already called and they are on their way here as we speak. At least he was smart enough to leave quickly. Like Kym, locating and reading the code is the best way to figure out what is legal and what is not.
Oh, I am one of those whose uses Cannabis for medical treatment. Oxy and morphine don’t work for me. On-going inoperable spinal injuries are like that. But CBD and THC help prevent me from taking my pain out on others. [edit]
Time to start a program of captive trained hawks. Pets!
FAA cannot fine a bird for taking out a drone.
Hey K, might not be able to fine a bird, but. You can fine the person who trained them to do that.
The fear is raging here. Fear built by lack of education. So many of these commenters have no idea what drones are capable of, Its funny to see American civilians concerned for drone attacks now only after unleashing drone strikes for twenty years straight on poor countries with opposing religions. Maybe another medical cigarette will sooth that paranoia.
it sounds like drones are a wildland fire hazard and need to be illegal to operate during the fire danger season in the West. Am I suppose to trust someone like you with that much risk to all of us. its no different than dragging chain, which is all ways caused by lack of care and/or understanding of the implications of ones actions.
Yeah, hahaha, none of us has ever heard of drone strikes in war zones. Thank you Captain Obvious.
The best way to take down a drone is to become proficient with a drone and capture footage of the operator and their equipment. Lipo batteries sometimes pop when dropped, so shooting one is a silly venture at best, Many drones can collect 4k footage from beyond water hose and shotgun range you guys, but go ahead, make it rain.
Do you fly fpv or camera drones like a Mavic?
Dont have an illegal grow and you dont have to worry about being ripped off.
Why is their illegal activity worse than your illegal activity. Not sure you hold the high ground here. Illegal grows have destroyd the couny in so many ways. Poisong the wildlife, divirting water from the streams and rivers, chemicles from fertlizers and poisens fetting into our rivers and streams, murder,importation of crime espically the carrels. The lost goes on and on yet you feel you have the moral high ground from some POS thief. Other than sex offenders i really think your activity puts you at the bottom right along with the thieves. Get a job and pay taxes like the rest of us
I wish they would allow pot to be grown in fields like corn or hay really bottom out the price so you growers would have to get a legit job and pay taxes.
When did the article mentioned they grew? Only assuming because it’s Laytonville?
The property is owned by an elderly man who can’t do any maintenance. The person working is the property caretaker. He’s been doing fire prevention work.
Meee, thieves will steal anything, it’s not just weed they are looking for. I keep a lot of ranch equipment at my property that could be stolen by anyone with a Cat key, for example. I would absolutely shoot a drone out of the sky if I felt like it was watching me or my family or my ranch.
No grow here, but all sorts of farm machinery vandalized or stolen, locks cut off gates.
Sick of the tweaking thieves
Have a small 500 gallon water tank attached to a pump with a fire hose. Drone problem solved no issue fire danger solved no issue.
This website does more to spread paranoia than the UFOs that visit me every Thursday.
Paintball markers are a wonderful non firearm solution for unauthorized drones invading ones airspace. That actually sounds like great fun and excellent practice.
Amen Meee. Not to mention lots of dope growers make a fortune and fraudulently collect welfare. No need to worry about drones if you aren’t illegally growing weed.
With respect to shooting at a flying drone, and setting aside any questions of legality, I think the risk of fire from puncturing a LiPo battery is probably significant. Using steel birdshot would probably be the worst possible option.
I wonder if some “less-lethal” rounds might work though, like these “rubber buckshot” loads or a DIY version with plastic AirSoft BB’s.
https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/CWRB-12.html
Paint balls frozen for 72 hours will do the trick.
Seems Like many folks in the hills who carry guns because the bad guys have guns need to learn how to fly drones because the bad guys have drones, and refusing to learn how new technology works is not a solid plan for future security. Funny to read comments from folks who think because I fly a drone I’m some sort of creep, it’s a hobby folks, some of us like to fly and a camera onboard helps us fly more.
It’s not creepy unless you use it to spy on other people. At that point it instantly becomes super fucking creepy.
Call it a hobby if you like, but flying your drone with a video camera over somebody else’s private property makes you a creep. Its not up to others to accommodate you in the name of ‘future security’. Expect resistance.
Again I never advocated for flying in airspace without permission, what does your comment even mean it’s not up to other to accommodate me? in the name of their own personal security?…huh? I advocate for safe legal flying and you find that threatening huh? I’ll call it a hobby. Go ahead resist with your pink hat.
So now all you people also own the airspace! Holy crap!!!!!!
Is it even legal for guerillas to fly drones? 🙈
heh heh with all the comments about shooting down drones I would add my 2ç .. btw shooting down a licensed drone operating legally is a damn good way to make SURE that the GPS tagged 4K footage of your illegal garden makes it into the inbox of code enforcement and other cannabis raiding/regulating agencies.(& you have ensured the pilot will do anything now including cooperating with local LEO(s) to make SURE you are next on the raid list cause of your violent response including firearms(and those WILL get confiscated during the raid) also for the folks quoting california civil law? its superceded by the FAA act and its enabling legislation. Airspace is federal territory , period. You might have more luck in cali civil court with an “intrusion upon seclusion” tort which have been largely successful for actual invasion of privacy cases but you wont win for simple property/vegetation survey overflights (&lots of agencies running drones now days both FAA and not FAA registered.) same federal time in a federal prison as shooting at an aircraft.
& local drone MUCH more likely to belong to the county Tax assessor, you gonna have some REAL fun if you shoot down such a drone..
just stirring the shit
fellow traveler
ps go ahead make our day(legal drone pilots). we will laugh as you get perp walked and your unlicensed farm destroyed. maybe DONT call attention to your crimes by shooting at a drone/aircraft?
Probably just a meth delivery.
Not everyone is a grower, some people would just like to scratch their ass on their own property without you watching.
I’ve been mentioning this for a long time vertical privacy is going to come into issue. With drones and Google Earth both people’s privacy is invaded whether you’re doing something wrong or not. First movie star nude pictures taken in front of their pool by a drone that’s when it’s probably going to crack open. Sadly,not by any of us common folks being disrespected.
Don’t forget more and more county’s are using drones for compliance on cannabis legal or not shooting down state property would be costly
Tools to prevent drones from flying black: https://www.jammer-store.de/Drohne-storsender.html