# What is this creature crawling on my utility meter at 5:00 this morning? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2023, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100 "2023-08-05T12:30:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/61 "2023-08-09T18:50:58Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Why is your camera pointed in such an odd place? Worried someone is going to steal your meter? > [@dougrb](#): > > I was thinking the same thing… until I imagined ThelmaLou saying “Enhance video in sector 4” Wait… doesn’t everybody have an array of video cameras protecting their property? (mumbled in a state of shock as I gaze at my iPad over the seven video feeds coming from strategically positioned TCP/IP cameras around the house, all powered by POI with battery backup). It does occur to me that I might be the odd one here, but it is definitely convenient when I wonder if my daughter came home or if the mailman has dropped off the mail. And we get to see our neighborhood fox strolling through the yard. As for watching the meter, there are usually plenty of things worth meddling with right next to the meter, such as Internet connection, phone connection, and the A/C condenser. Some evil folks have been steeling A/C condensers for scrap in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/62 "2023-08-09T19:01:07Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Wait… doesn’t everybody have an array of video cameras protecting their property? No. I don’t protect my property and do not see any need to out here. Few people lock their cars, let alone their houses. My neighbors have a game cam in the ravine; a mama fox raises kits down under the rock wall every year. Hell on the chicken flock, those limbs of satan. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/63 "2023-08-09T19:09:12Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > …seven video feeds coming from strategically positioned TCP/IP cameras around the house, all powered by POI with battery backup). You might even have a control room full of monitors and a flashing red light to alert you to the arrival of cops (or hit men), but you probably haven’t taken that final step of wiring the house for detonation with a one-minute delay that allows you to say to your sexy incredulous companion, “_C’mon, let’s get outta here!_” ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/64 "2023-08-09T19:14:40Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > No. I don’t protect my property and do not see any need to out here. Few people lock their cars, let alone their houses. I definitely live in a more urban setting. Not a “bars on the windows” neighborhood, but those are less than 20 blocks away. My daughter’s cat converter was stolen a few months back, and I decided to put my camera project in high gear, if only to document what happens–it’s not like I’d catch anyone live in the act, and I wouldn’t confront them. And whenever I’m up late at night and I hear weird noises outside, it’s so convenient to glance at recent activity and see that it really is nothing more than the wind and trees. I do admit, I like geeky technology, so this was right up my alley. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/65 "2023-08-09T23:53:11Z")
My son built a new house a couple years ago and has several cameras. Any movement detected gets an audible notification on the whole house sound system. Then he can pull up video on any of several screens around the house. It’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/66 "2023-08-10T00:31:25Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > > Oh happy day. > > Not! That means MORE cockroaches! That was sarcasm. > [@minor7flat5](#): > > Wait… doesn’t everybody have an array of video cameras protecting their property? I only have the two, but they are so easy to set up and fun to watch. For those of us who don’t have lives. > [@minor7flat5](#): > > My daughter’s cat converter was stolen a few months back… Okay. Is this an electrical or religious thing? Because if it involves a cat getting baptized, I can tell you right now, they aren’t gonna like it. > [@minor7flat5](#): > > I do admit, I like geeky technology, so this was right up my alley. I love my geeky gadgets! Who knew that when I became an old lady, electronic toys would claim my heart. Didn’t see that one coming. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/67 "2023-08-10T18:14:01Z")
“Water bugs” was Mama Plant’s term for American Cockroaches. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/68 "2023-08-10T18:25:22Z")
We use the terms interchangeably around here. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/69 "2023-08-10T18:27:25Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Because if it involves a cat getting baptized They mean “catalytic converter”. So a car thing. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/70 "2023-08-10T18:28:59Z")
WHEW! 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/71 "2023-08-10T18:43:46Z")
Yeah, Mama Plant was in denial. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/72 "2023-08-10T18:56:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@minor7flat5](#): > > > > My daughter’s cat converter was stolen a few months back… > > Okay. Is this an electrical or religious thing? Because if it involves a cat getting baptized, I can tell you right now, they aren’t gonna like it. I was imagining a device that would turn a dog into a cat. Or a cat into something useful like a purse. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/73 "2023-08-10T19:10:52Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > I was imagining a device that would turn a dog into a cat. > Or a cat into something useful like a purse. Now I’m imagining some Dr. Seuss contraption, like the machine that put the stars on the bellies of the sneeches. There’s a long line of cats going in and dogs coming out. Of course, just like with the sneeches, there was a machine to remove the stars. A long line of dogs going in and cats coming out! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/74 "2023-08-10T20:17:45Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > several cameras. Any movement detected gets an audible notification on the whole house sound system. Then he can pull up video on any of several screens around the house. It’s pretty cool. That sounds like a recipe for paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100/75 "2023-08-10T20:37:05Z")
Who’s paranoid? I’m not paranoid. Who said I was paranoid? I’m not paranoid, you’re paranoid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature-crawling-on-my-utility-meter-at-5-00-this-morning/988100.md?page=3)