Dairy farmer Ralph Frye from Unity Township is not sure what made him install a hidden surveillance camera at his farm recently, but he is quite happy with his decision to install the one as it helped police solve the burglary at his farm.
Police department used the recording of hidden surveillance camera to investigate the case and identify the suspect Jonathan D. Metcalf, a 28 year old man from Mt. Pleasant Township.
Metcalf is also facing charges related to burglary and theft of equipment and machinery from two farms.
“I’ve worked this farm for 35 years and have worked too hard and make too little money to let this stuff go. This was the third time in a year and a half I was burglarized, and all state police could really do before was come out and make out a report,” says Ralph Frye, 60.
“It was frustrating,” he said. “The equipment taken may not seem like much, but a few hundred here and a few hundred there adds up to a lot for me.”
Prior to this, for the past one and half year, burglars had broken into Frye’s farm twice and there was nothing police could do. This spring, his son Jason came with the idea of installing motion cameras and purchased the surveillance camera for him.
This proved to be a timely and wise decision for them when in July burglar Metcalf was filmed while stealing from Fyre’s farm.
Frye is now planning to install two more hidden surveillance cameras at his farm. He adds that many of his friends and relatives from the farm industry are also started to think about installing these hidden cameras at their barns.
