I'm a student who recently rented a house and planted two yucca cuttings in pots outside. Unfortunately, someone stole one while I was away. I'm considering hiding a tracker in the soil of each pot so I can identify or locate whoever takes them. AirTags seem unsuitable because they can notify nearby people, so I'm looking for something discreet and waterproof enough to survive in damp soil. Ideally, it should work without alerting the person carrying it. I'm also considering security cameras, but nighttime footage may not be useful if the person is masked.
3 Answers
A security camera is probably the most practical option, especially one with motion detection and night vision. A tracker may help locate the pot afterward, but it probably won’t identify the person who took it. Be sure to configure the camera securely so it isn’t exposed online.
You could combine a visible camera with a less valuable decoy pot and improve the lighting around the entrance. A tracker hidden in soil also needs to be properly sealed, since waterproof ratings don’t always mean it can handle long-term contact with wet dirt.
Tile is another possibility, but it relies on its own app and nearby devices rather than being built into every phone. Keep in mind that modern tracking systems may still provide anti-stalking alerts, so finding a device that secretly tracks someone may not be possible or appropriate.

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