Someone stole a radio from one of my cars while it was parked in front of my house. I felt like I had been raped. I was thankful it wasn't worse, but really a horrible feeling. So, I purchased a surveillance system with 8 day/night cameras with built in microphones and set it to record 24/7, plus detect motion. After installing the cameras, I have checked the video everyday for shady activities. This past Sunday morning, my neighbor came over and told me that someone had stolen her Christmas decorations from her mailbox. We went to check the video, and sure enough, there it was. A middle aged couple in a fairly nice Chevy 4-wheel drive truck passed through the neighborhood 2 times around 7am. On the second pass, they veered over towards the mailbox with the passenger window down, the woman leans out and snatches the stuff off of the mailbox. Can you believe that? I want to repeat that, GROWN MIDDLE AGED PEOPLE STOLE DECORATIONS FROM A MAILBOX!!!! I am still in shock over that. I was expecting to see some kids doing something that was fun to them or something, not this. I am more shocked by people everyday. I thought I would eventually realize that some people are just stupid and rationalize it that way, but it hasn't worked yet. Didn't know if you guys might have some similar situations that have happened and would want to share.
Anyone have a surveillance system?
- Thread starter civlized
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I've designed and installed surveillance systems for our four building complex. Indoor and outdoor cameras, some with pan, tilt, zoom capabilities. You'd be amazed at what you see. One girl, not knowing we watch and retain the recorded information mooned one of the cameras in our parking garage. She got to watch herself in the personnel manager's office.
I was finding that someone had been coming into my office at night. Things on my desk would be moved and going through my computer log I found he/she had been using my computer for watching porno. I set up a camera in my office and caught a security guard on it, spending as much as two hours of his shift playing on the Internet and enjoying himself on company time. He was gone the following day. The neat part was that I put an icon on my desktop that said, "Great Photos" . When you clicked on it a Word file opened and read, "Smile, You're on Candid Camera. Don't believe it? Turn around and look up in the corner behind you." We saw this guard open the file then turn to face the camera. We showed him the video and the time stamp just before escorting him out of the building with his last paycheck in his hand. We've also caught people dumping trash on our property and got their liscense numbers with the zoom cameras, watched lovers and drug deals go down, helped a guy find his lost dog and the police have used our system to stake out a building on the street behind ours.
The technology today is amazing. The downside is that systems like these are being used more and more to keep watch on people when they don't know they're being watched. A little scary.
Tom
I was finding that someone had been coming into my office at night. Things on my desk would be moved and going through my computer log I found he/she had been using my computer for watching porno. I set up a camera in my office and caught a security guard on it, spending as much as two hours of his shift playing on the Internet and enjoying himself on company time. He was gone the following day. The neat part was that I put an icon on my desktop that said, "Great Photos" . When you clicked on it a Word file opened and read, "Smile, You're on Candid Camera. Don't believe it? Turn around and look up in the corner behind you." We saw this guard open the file then turn to face the camera. We showed him the video and the time stamp just before escorting him out of the building with his last paycheck in his hand. We've also caught people dumping trash on our property and got their liscense numbers with the zoom cameras, watched lovers and drug deals go down, helped a guy find his lost dog and the police have used our system to stake out a building on the street behind ours.
The technology today is amazing. The downside is that systems like these are being used more and more to keep watch on people when they don't know they're being watched. A little scary.
Tom
That is great! It may be true that some people don't know they are being watched, but if you are anywhere other than your home or in a restroom, you should expect someone to be watching. Small cameras, cell phones, surveillance systems, etc. they are everywhere. I have really enjoyed my system. The only regret that I have is that my wife talked me out of the 16 camera system. I was going to install a couple inside the house, but she wouldn't allow me to do that. You know how women are!! Got to keep them happy! My system can control ptz cameras, but I don't have any yet. Those things are expensive.
Your lucky you didn't catch that guy doing more than just looking at porno! That could've been embarrasing for both of you if he found a site he really liked.
Your lucky you didn't catch that guy doing more than just looking at porno! That could've been embarrasing for both of you if he found a site he really liked.
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I do have one camera.
I have had a few shady folks stop in to check out what I was selling, and seemed to be looking around at other "stuff" in the shop. I casually told the guy (and several of my meth head neighbors at various times) that "I have the ultimate secutrity system, I have snakes all over the place....you can hear a dog coming, but by the time you realize there are snakes, it's too late."
I have had a few shady folks stop in to check out what I was selling, and seemed to be looking around at other "stuff" in the shop. I casually told the guy (and several of my meth head neighbors at various times) that "I have the ultimate secutrity system, I have snakes all over the place....you can hear a dog coming, but by the time you realize there are snakes, it's too late."
Do any of you have your systems networked so you can view from remote locations? I have to sit at a desk most of the day at work and I can keep an eye on my house while I'm sitting there. I love this thing. I have watched the fed ex and ups people people trip going up the steps(shouldn't be funny but it is), throwing packages, smoking in my chairs on the front porch. You never know what you might see.
That's a good one. How did that go on "Snakes on a Plane? I'm sick of these *******snakes on this ****** plane"
I have one set up in my shop. Caught a *friend* walking off with a dremel and cell phone.
Not any more. His justification was that the dremel was perfect for doing his nails. :>(
civilized,
That sounds cool. Can you view your house from any remote computer? How much does such a setup cost?
Bought A 500 Watt Security Light With A Motion Sensor. What They Don`t Know, It Has A Digital Camera With A 2 Gig Sd Card. During The Day It Takes Pics Without Turning The Light On. $153.. Ron
Hi Mike, yes I can view from any computer with an internet connection. It cost about $1200-1300. I don't exactly remember, but in that range. It was a little bit of a pain to get the networking done, but then I know nothing about it and have never done it before. I love this system.
8 Camera Complete Stand Alone DVR Security System with audio cameras - Best Selling Products - Hierarchy 1 - Invisible - Root Catalog - Default Store View
Here is a link to where I bought my system and this is the same system I have.
Thanks Civilized ... sounds like a great system but beyond my budget right now.
Ron ... your set up sounds great. What's the brand name and where is it sold?
(Any snow down there yet?!)
Ron ... your set up sounds great. What's the brand name and where is it sold?
(Any snow down there yet?!)
I totally understand Mike. It was way out of my budget until someone broke into one of my cars while parked in the driveway in front of my house. I had to do something to make my wife feel better, me too honestly. Besides, I have saved enough riding my bicycle and scooter all of the time that I could save a little cash for something like this. If you get interested and want to save some money, you can purchase a kit for installing into a computer and using it as the dvr and camera control. Much cheaper than a stand alone system. On the link I posted earlier, look at the 2 camera systems link on the left side of the page. This is a good starting point for searching.
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OK GUYS, 500 WATT HALOGEN, 180* COVERAGE, 2 MP COLOR CAMERA, 2 GB MAX SD CARD, FULLY PROGRAMABLE. 1-5 MINUTE LIGHT ON. I-2 PICS PER TRIGGERING. UP TO 10 SECOND VIDEOS. WITH 2 GB SD YOU GET 1024 VID CLIPS, 5,120 OR 3,328 PICS. 120V HOUSE POWER. ALSO HAS TIME DATE STAMP ON PICS, VIDS.============= LOL, JUST LOOKED IN BOX NOW. THEY CAME WITH A CD/DVD? I BOUGHT 2 IN JULY BEFORE THE TRIP NORTH. GOT ONE UP. $153. EACH INCLUDED S/H/. THE DVD HAS A WEB ADDY (Stealth Cam Digital Scouting Cameras) THE BAD IS = THE CARD SLIDES IN THE BOTTOM OF CAMERA. IT IS WEATHER PROOF, LOOKS LIKE A MOTION SENSOR, NOT A CAMERA. YOU HAVE TO CLIMB LADDER OR WHATEVER TO GET SD CARD AND READ IT ON COMPUTOR. 2 CARDS WOULD BE NICE TO ALTERNATE. I HAD IT COVERING THE DRIVE WAY, DRIVE PAST IT, NOT GOOD, SET IT SO THE ARE COMING TOWARDS IT , NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO CAMERA A BIT LONGER. I WAS LOOKING FOR A INFRA RED GAME CAMERA TO MOUNT IN SIDE A BIRD HOUSE OR SOME HOW NOT NOTICABLE, BUT FOUND THESE. GOING TO MOUNT THE SECOND ONE AIMED AT THE CHIMNEY, GET PICS OF SANTA. MIKE, NO SNOW, BUT COOLER THAN NORMAL, AL GORE MUST BE PI$$ED OFF ABOUT THAT!! RON
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I hope you get the illusive Santa! I got a bone to pick with him if you get him. I put up a game camera on that property I have. I didn't really like it for my purpose. It kills the batteries pretty quick, about a month. Along with it looking like a camera, even when hidden. It has a flash, blinking led, and a lense that are all kind of hard to hide and make it function. I like the light idea. It wires up to standard ac current, right?
SOMETHING IS CRAZY HERE. WHAT I TYPE IS NOT COMING UP IN THE POST!! = Stealth Cam Digital Scouting Cameras RON
Civil, You Can Hook A Solar Panel To Them. Is It A Infra Red Set Up?? I Thought The Infra Red Models Did Not Show Any Light!?? Life Is A Compromise! The "one Fit All" Is Not The Answer. Dam`it!! Lol. Another Good Thing, If Someone Is Lurking, The Lite Comes On, They Show Up Good In The Scope. Ron
