You'd be surprised how much can be done at the edge with current cameras. I'm not sure exactly how these particular ones are set up, but the other major players in the space (Axis,Bosch,Panasonic) all have pretty surprising levels of local compute dedicated to "AI", and leveraging external VMS platforms can exponentially increase capabilities. It's pretty idiot proof once set up, as it's aimed at desk jockies that monitor and report with minimal systems training.

Again, not this specific system but this stuff is far from sci-fi anymore.

It's been a while since I did that sort of thing, but from what I remember: The vast majority of "night vision" cameras are active IR, or sensitive enough that proper reflective surfaces trigger activity if they change a large enough area.

And the type of imagery these searches are looking for, would most likely be fooled by a couple of reflective strips blowing in the wind. Although I might recommend using strips of that reflective stuff on safety vests, that way you'd really "poison the pool".

EDIT:

Don't tape the strips across the street. Hang them nearer the camera so they occupy a larger area of the footage and triggers more easily. Although not on/close to the lens, that will make them notice too soon. You can even just tape a stick on top of the camera that goes up like a fishing rod, with some strands of fishing wire to reflect light in the moisture that condenses(basically a fake spiderweb).

Might give them trouble in pre-dawn hours, might not depending on the design. I doubt the municipalities and government agencies pay much of anything for data usage.

Fun fact, most places the department of transportation pays nothing for the electricity that runs street lights - electric company just gives it to them unmetered - in exchange for good and valuable consideration like right of way usage.