A client of mine had a trespass problem. The trail cam locked in a bear proof box, 3/8" Python cabled to a tree lasted less than 2 weeks before it disappeared.
Ouch. While it is an added financial cost - 2 options: - wireless trail cam so footage is uploaded in near real time and/or - secondary cams that point at the original more obvious cams
Yes -I have years of retired defunct cameras and thats what I use them for. Decoys. If I'm trying to catch a trespasser I put one where its not to obvious and the real one high and hidden. They usually don't look up..