As previously mentioned in the thread, although I don't expect anyone to remember (lol) I am not a tech savvy person. Whether it be a surveillance system, computer, home stereo, or tv....all I want to know is when I hit the "on" button that it works. However, with respect to the surveillance system, unless something is uniquely wrong mechanically with a specific camera, they are all either on or off. I'm pretty sure from the main unit you can intentionally program which cameras you want activated and which you do not. This would be by "intention". I don't believe that randomly "some cameras would be working and some wouldn't. And, I don't believe a business owner would want some cameras working and some not unless he/she knew ahead of time there would be an activity they did not want recorded. The idea that "several" cameras had mechanical problems is unlikely to me. If RM was at he scrap yard and was not seen on camera at all, that to me means the entire system was not on while he was there. The reasons being either the main unit/console was out of order or it was intentionally turned off. But, I don't believe some cameras were working and some were not.
And, this is for those who believe the scrap yard cameras are relevant. I believe he left the scrap yard.... alive.