Security cams

Oldfatdogs

The weather is warming up,that means the midnight creepers are coming out.Thinking about putting up some cameras just to have one more safeguard.There's been a few break ins in the neighborhood.Thief's are getting bolder,found my gate to back yard opened a couple weeks ago.

Anyone use them on your property?
Any suggestions on placement or running of the wiring in the attic?

Thanks Dan

Irrenhaus

Same boat here thinking about installing some. I am still debating to go with IP or wire cameras.

Cheers

Oldfatdogs

I think I'm going wired,I can talk my sons into doing attic work.Not sure if wireless would work for me.I guess only us Ca. guys have a need for these.

Reviews are all over the place on cam systems.Night vision on cams greatly reduced from day use.
At this point I think having them would make me feel better.Being able to see whats going on around the house via cell phone a plus.

tonyb

I dunno pal, seems a big dog and a 357 would be enough. Put a go-pro on the dog, cheap man's security cam. LOL

I always wanted a security cam that by remote control I could squirt cat piss at unwelcomed visitors.

Oldfatdogs

Tony,I have the dogs and a heater in my pocket when in the shop.Just might catch a face shot good enough to go hunting.
I do like the cat piss cam idea.Quick patten your idea before someone else does.
Anymore the one dog and I miss things more than we use too,so a few extra eyes cant hurt.

tonyb

Security cams are a good idea if your having some break ins in the hood. Get the smallest ones possible with good resolution and night vision. Always put them out of sight. Entry ways should have at least 2 camera's...different angles but covering the same area. Wiring also needs to be put in a spot not easily accessed. Camera's are good at stopping the young thief....or the real stupid ones, but not an experienced one. Thing is, an experienced thief already knows what valuables may be inside and has a target in mind, the young idiots want to wait until they are inside to figure out what to take.

I like the wireless and being able to view on your phone. Only downside is anything on your phone is hackable, but again, a young thief won't go to that trouble. Having a good heavy home safe for valuables is also a good idea. If everything is locked up, what are they going to take ? A TV....Laptop....grandma's ashes on the mantle ? Insurance will cover those small electronics anyway, let them take it.

The real problem comes in when your home when a break-in occurs. Now we aren't talking about material things, it's your own safety and that of your loved ones that needs protecting. That's why I say a dog first off because they will give you an early heads up when someone tries getting in.....and that allows you time to get your 357.

Alarms are good too, like those available from ADT. Sensors around doors and windows, alerts police when one goes off. Couple that with some security cams and you've done about all you can do, aside from the 357.

As someone who was formally....um...on the other side of the law so to speak, in my younger days that is, I can tell you that the more visible security there is, tells me the more valuable something is inside worth protecting. So the key is well hidden security.

Bottom line is, as economic times worsen, crime will go up. People get desperate, more bold. Don't flash valuables or give people the impression you have lots of money stashed. If they want in, they'll get in regardless....and if they know you have a safe in the house they'll want in while your home to open that safe. Then it comes down to you or them, and as I see it, there's only one way to stop that.

unc2701

tonyb wrote: »

I like the wireless and being able to view on your phone.

As someone who was formally....um...on the other side of the law so to speak, in my younger days that is, I can tell you that the more visible security there is, tells me the more valuable something is inside worth protecting. So the key is well hidden security.

You can get wired cameras that go to a DVR that has a server where you can monitor from an iphone (that's my setup)... at which point it's on your internal network and as long as you have that locked down, you're good. There aren't roving bands of hackers looking for secure networks to break into. Your 80 year old neighbors that leave the network wide open probably have your teenage neighbors surfing **** on their networks, but no criminal masterminds. Also, if you have some CAT5 around, you can get baluns to run power, audio and video over a single run of CAT5, which is a little easier to work with than the security cam wire (usually an rg59 with a power cable stuck on the outside & no audio).

While Tony may have had a point in his younger days, security cams and alarms have gotten cheap enough and prevalent enough to be a deterrent in of themselves and not an indicator of potential targets. Make them visible as possible as long as they're out of reach. Why bother with a house that has cameras and alarms when the next door one doesn't? To that point- I've got a couple of dead cams... if anyone wants to pay shipping you can have 'em for free, just shoot me a PM.

But #1 is get a dog. My mom taught criminals for years, and the dog was the one thing that would move them on every time.

Oldfatdogs

Thanks for the information,like I said just another way to keep thief's moving along.The setup I have been looking at has the DVR, cams,audio and such.I'm on a corner,across from a park and close to a river access.Lots of traffic on foot in the summer months,just trying to cover my A$$.My dogs do a good job watching things,I have the inside covered when home.They did try to steal my truck a couple years ago but alarm ran them off so I will put a cam on that.As long as doorways and windows that cant be seen from the street are covered I well feel better.
Dan

tonyb

unc2701 wrote: »

You can get wired cameras that go to a DVR that has a server where you can monitor from an iphone (that's my setup)... at which point it's on your internal network and as long as you have that locked down, you're good. There aren't roving bands of hackers looking for secure networks to break into. Your 80 year old neighbors that leave the network wide open probably have your teenage neighbors surfing **** on their networks, but no criminal masterminds. Also, if you have some CAT5 around, you can get baluns to run power, audio and video over a single run of CAT5, which is a little easier to work with than the security cam wire (usually an rg59 with a power cable stuck on the outside & no audio).

While Tony may have had a point in his younger days, security cams and alarms have gotten cheap enough and prevalent enough to be a deterrent in of themselves and not an indicator of potential targets. Make them visible as possible as long as they're out of reach. Why bother with a house that has cameras and alarms when the next door one doesn't? To that point- I've got a couple of dead cams... if anyone wants to pay shipping you can have 'em for free, just shoot me a PM.

But #1 is get a dog. My mom taught criminals for years, and the dog was the one thing that would move them on every time.

Agree about the dog...but some of your other comments are suspect. Hackers do look for secure networks to break into....ask Sony or Target. Homes...not so much unless they know you have something extremely valuable. Maybe you invest in paintings....which most likely are kept in home. Maybe you run a cash business....which means you may hide cash at home. Maybe you deal in drugs....that's a gimme.

"Why bother with a house that has cameras and alarms when the next door one doesn't?"

Because nobody gives a crap about their neighbors affairs. What....every house on the block should have camera's or nobody should ? Kinda ridiculous statement pal unless I'm reading that wrong, if so, apologies.

Most security companies hire the best thieves to consult with. Who else would know how to get around security ? Having a visible camera may work to scare the moron inexperienced thief....which most are anyway. That will work for the majority of folks out there, but the ones who have somethings of real value...makes them a target.

Some people...more so these days, hide stuff. Be it money....drugs....gold/silver, stuff they don't want to report or have anyone knowing they have. They live normal lives....average houses....drive average cars...dress average, nothing to draw attention to themselves. Except....when they get drunk at a party, feel a need to boast, and open their stupid mouths. Believe me....when this stuff happens someone is taking note.

I remember 30 years ago a friend of mine had a device you suctioned cupped to a window. He could dial in any phone number and listen in within a 30 mile radius. That was 30 years ago....can't imagine what a good thief has available to him in todays techy world. If you think your ahead of the security game just by way of technology, I assure you the thieves are a step ahead of your technology.

Still, a good dog and a gun are your best prospects, proven tactics over the course of time for single home security. Still like my cat piss idea though....except sourcing the cat piss may be somewhat hard to do.

tonyb

BTW Dan,

If a security cam gives you some peace of mind, rock it man. I suspect the idiots in your neighborhood are the moron type thieves anyway and it just may deter them....if those NRA stickers all over don't.

unc2701

Tony- I don't argue that all the scenarios you pose are possible... but you need to roll back the paranoia a bit. 99% of break-ins are straight dumbass criminals OR someone you know. Assuming he trusts his associates, you protect against dumbassery (the vast majority of the "someone you know" victims are not the polk audio demographic, so I'm ignoring that) .

An average dumbass criminal in the 99% situation is looking for straight convenience. They're looking for a house where there is an unobserved entry point, no alarms, no dogs. If a house fails on any of those, they check the next house. That's it. Cameras are a deterrent in the 99% situation- just google "cameras as deterrents" and you'll find multiple studies backing this up, including ones that show the more visible the better. Even fake and non-functional cameras have been shown to be effective.

A parallel: My aunt knew someone that was driving a truck with their seatbelt off, wrecked, got thrown from the vehicle. A log in the back of the truck went through the back window and would have taken his head clear off if he hadn't been thrown out. Should you stop wearing your seatbelt? No: you act on the stats and 99% of the time you're better off with it on.

Oldfatdogs

Tony,mostly collage kids in the neighborhood I don't worry about them to much.Its the tweekers from surrounding areas coming in and homeless from the river creeping around at night.I have been here for 21 years and not had a problem,but neighborhoods are changing all around the US.The wife and I have worked hard for the little bit we have and would like to keep it.

Dan

unc2701

Oh- motion lights are good, too, especially for what you're describing... assuming you can set them up in a way that you don't piss off your neighbors or set the dogs off barking on nuisance triggers. Just be aware that the cameras will have 2-3 seconds of being washed out after they come on. BTW, here's that CAT5 balun I mentioned:
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=110&cp_id=11011&cs_id=1101101&p_id=6879&seq=1&format=2

Monoprice also has a selection of other security cam stuff & I've had good luck with them.

Oldfatdogs

Thanks for the link and help unc,I will read up.

Dan