Burglary infuriates drone pilot

A social media marketer being investigated for flying a drone in Hamilton at night has been burgled and says he hopes those responsible die slowly and painfully.

In an expletive-filled early-morning post on Facebook, Dori Media founder Adam Crouchley said thieves had stolen a $1499 Phantom 2 drone and $399 GoPro camera along with other items from his home.

“To the thieving f…. that were just in my house taking things while I was asleep, get a job and earn your own money you pieces of s…,” Mr Crouchley posted at 3.34am on Sunday.

“I hope you enjoy using my laptop, mountain bike, drone, Gopro, projector, fishing rod, and I hope you die a slow and painful death.”

Mr Crouchley would not talk to the Waikato Times about his post but the combined haul would be worth thousands of dollars.

The Civil Aviation Authority raised an aviation related concern last week and launched an investigation into aerial videos of Hamilton that Mr Crouchley posted as examples of Dori Media’s work on video-sharing website YouTube.

Police called at his Hamilton East home on March 1 after receiving two complaints about his drone and advised him to remove the video.

Instead of taking the video down, Mr Crouchley waited two days to edit out the night shots and the Dori Media logos before reposting the video.

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Mike Richards said drones were classed as model aircraft and anyone operating them had to comply with Civil Aviation Authority rules. The authority believes Mr Crouchley may have committed offences by flying the drone at night and operating it within Hamilton Airport’s control zone.

Dori Media could be fined up to $12,000.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9812317/Burglary-infuriates-drone-pilot