Posted: 4/25/2004 6:45:20 AM EDT
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We've suffered quite a bit of vandalism and theft from our yard, and yesterday found out that someone (we KNOW who) tried to break into our garage. The local LEO says we need proof (understood) so I need to install outside cameras. Like most of us, we are not flush with cash, so cost is a factor. Ease of installation is somewhat of a factor, as I am better much better with wrenches than I am with hammers. It has been hard to keep my mind on my job while worrying about what the poor little rich kid and his buddy is doing once they get out of school in the afternoons. Forgot to add. Any good suggestions? |
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www.supercircuits.com Have a look at black and white cameras as they have amazing abilities to see in the dark. For about $50 to $100 you can get a camera that sees below 1 lux and has better than VHS tape resolution. You'll need a camera, the cable (video/power), and a power transformer. Run this to a VHS recorder set to SLP and you'll get 8 hours worth of recording per tape. The camera can be so small as to not even be noticed by people passing by it. There are weather proof models if you plan on leaving it there in the weather. I currently have three cameras around my house and have one more to go. If you need additional help let me know. I can suggest some camera models if you'd like. Paul |
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www.x10.com/homepage.htm Take a look at these guys too. Others have told me they have had real good results with some of their gear. |
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I had good luck with a $50 b&w camera that I got at Target a few years ago, but after an hour or so, for some reason sometimes the picture would get a bit blurry. For the most part though, for the price, it worked really well, and with just a little bit of moonlight, I could see quite a distance. It was hard to identify anyone though on it unless they were fairly close, so the camera should be as close as possible to what you want to view. |
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No matter what camera you select, there are a few things to keep in mind. The main issue is that a jury watching the tape must be able to clearly identify the individual(s) on the tape, and what their actions are on the tape. In general, it needs to be good enough to hold up in court for the PD to do anything. One good way to catch people in these situations is if you know where they are coming from - say the house across the street. Set up a good wide angle to show them leaving the house, coming across the street to your house, doing their "business" and then going back into their house. In the case I am thinking of, the individuals were wearing masks to conceal their identity - but it was clear where they came from and went back to. When the neighbor was confronted by the PD, they indicated that it was not them. The video was shown at their front door on a portable player. "Ms. X, it is clear from the video that the culprits came from and went back into your home. Since it was not you, it is clear you have had a break in and these guys are using your home as a base of operations when you are away. You need to let us in to investigate". Confession followed immediately. You may want to use two cameras to accomplish this: one on the garage door, and another one showing the individuals coming up to your home. This would leave them with no excuses. Video can be a lot of fun. I recently had to deal with a corporate video security system. An office on the third floor of a buiilding had a table outside their front door. They used it for relaxing, interviews, etc. It is a private area with little foot traffic. The entrance to one other company is opposite this table. One Monday the table was noted as missing. We ran the digital video footage and saw two people - clearly identifiable - come out of the door to this other company, pick up the table, and take it inside their office on Saturday AM. One of the two people was the CEO of the company. A call was placed to him asking if he knew where the table was. He indicated that he had not seen it since the previous friday. A similar call was placed to their receptionist - who was the second person in the video. She also indicated that she did not know where the table was. Stills were printed with timestamps showing them exiting their front door, picking up the table, and taking it into their office. Two uniformed Officers went to the receptionist and asked to see the CEO at the desk. About half of their office was standing around at this point. The stills were placed on the desk, and lo-and-behold the table was returned. They indicated that they felt it was unprofessional to have the table in the common area, and removed it. It was explained that this was theft. Their lease is now in danger. Video can be fun! James Bell Jr. Law Enforcement/Security Section Editor TCTR |
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Forget the cameras, power, VCR, etc... Get one of those camtracker cameras people use for hunting. Just make sure it's bolted down well or otherwise chained. It'll just snap pics when something triggers the motion sensor. Set it to take a thirty second series. Then you'll get the perpetrator, the priceless look on his mug as the flash goes off and he realized he's been busted and then his ass hauling away. I know at least one guy who's used his camtracker as a security device. Crash |
I have a Sony color bullet camera with nightvision that I got in a trade. Although I've never hooked it up, I went to ebay to see how much they go for and was suprised by how cheap they are. $150 for a weatherproof color camera that is motion detection activated and automatically switchs to night vision using an IR floodlight. I guess you could even feed it to your computer hard drive if you wanted. Stuff sure is cheap nowdays. 
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Can't you use many camcorders this way? I once saw software in a catalog which would start recording digitally when there was movement in preselected parts of the image. My sony digital uses about 15 gb an hour though. I guess I'm asking about a digital sytem that let you integrate a digital image from a camcorder or videocam, record on a hard drive, and software that let you set parameters for when to record, save at varying qualities and view this stuff on your computer, perhaps remotely. Mix and match components type of thing. |
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arlis, all the features you are talking about are available from x10. scrubj, x10 has a wide range of products, and components you can match together to do everything you want. I'd suggest placing the recording VCR inside your firearms safe if you have one - make sure when the little bastards work up to full Breaking and Entering that they can't get at the evidence of their crime. And if you think you know who is doing it, and they are a minor or resident child of a neighbor, I'd consider if the parent(s) are aware of their little darling's behaviour. |
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Second the motion for www.x10.com I used their wireless camera and hooked the receiver to my ATI All-in-Wonder card. That allowed me to record for days. They have a way to check it over the internet too if you've got a 24x7 connection at home. Sorry you've had trouble.  Edited to say: Lock Smith companies frequently sell fake cameras. A couple of those and a few signs will discourage all but drug crazed idiots. |