I have surveillance cameras on our house because my jeep kept getting broken into (well i never locked it) figured if they wanted in I would rather have them open the door then cut the window. anyhow
The skid plate was in this little cuby (for a lack of better word) I have where I put my trash can and all of my dirt jeep parts the wife wont let me keep in the garage. I have drums, disk breaks, a drag link, old oil. It has a shelf with other parts on it too. So no a normal person would not have said oh - that's trash. My lesson here is that a door is going on it with a lock this weekend.
I did an official police report last night - the office seems to recognize the truck - he said with the video it will help the detective to find the person. And since its $300-$500 replacement value on a skid plate it became a grand theft felony. I also gave the video and pics to our local crime watch president - he said he would keep an eye out and catch the guy. Retired Marine (hard nosed dude) very cool guy.
I'll tell you I posted this same thing on Pirate - you gotta love their responses, they get creative for sure.
Now I wait until I find the guy or the police do - I know I will probably never get it back. I'm just pissed because I have old axle housing and tie rod that aren't worth anything the guy could have had for free - but he took the one thing I was actually working on.