Security Cameras

I haven't decided what to do, but I'm going to have to make a decision fast. I just went out to my vehicle and found the driver's side door open, and the radio missing out of the dash, along with a bunch of tools that i had been working with. This has become such a consistent problem, that I think that the thieves must live here in the complex. There is a neighbor that lives on the second floor, overlooking the parking lot, that spends a lot of time on his balcony, which I asked if he had seen anything abnormal, and the only thing that he mentioned was that some young men that visit with a tenant that is directly in front of where I parked, were outside leaning on the vehicle. Obviously, that is insufficient to make an accusation, but it kind of fit with a hunch that I had, before he said what he did. It has got to be someone that is very familiar with the surroundings, and wouldn't seem out of place being in the parking lot.

I tried to call the apt. office, but forgot that it is the weekend, and it is closed, so I will on Monday, but I don't know what good it will do. Even calling the police probably would serve no purpose.

Good grief man, someone broke into your car, call the police already!

That camera you linked-to does not appear to have any wireless communication capability, so if you want it to signal to your network/router/PC then keep looking.

The LEDs you see on the front of most cams are for illumination in total darkness, e.g. a room with no lights. Most outdoor situations have some ambient light, in which case the LEDs should not be necessary. However, they might serve as a deterrent (unless the cam is positioned so the thief/thieves can simply block or destroy it).

@maxseven,

Good grief man, someone broke into your car, call the police already!

There would be no point, as things now stand. Since I have returned to this town in '93, I have had 2 vehicles stolen, as well as 1 trailer and several house break ins over the years, and the only thing that the police did was to take reports. I even spotted one of the stolen vehicles twice on the road, and unsuccessfully tried to chase it down. Which means that the police never really looked for it, even though it was an unusual car. The other was car jacked and had other items inside it when taken, which the thieves used to steal my identity, and run up a huge telephone bill. Therefore I had their address, but the police wouldn't even check it out. The only reason to make a police report is for insurance purposes, but my insurance doesn't include theft.

Wow, sorry to hear it. Since '93? Time to move maybe?

For sure then I'd implement a cam if possible--if the police don't care maybe your local TV station would like to broadcast pictures of your car being broken-into!

Not sure what cam to recommend--I've had good luck with Foscam units, and yes you can turn-off their IR LEDs if you want. And of course to cap from these you need a PC running 24/7 with its motion detection/capture software running as well.

Good Luck!

maxseven said:

Wow, sorry to hear it. Since '93? Time to move maybe?

Normally, I would agree, but since I'm both retired and disabled, moving is not an easy option. Also, I don't know that the choices that I would have as far as new addresses would be any better.

For sure then I'd implement a cam if possible--if the police don't care maybe your local TV station would like to broadcast pictures of your car being broken-into!

Not sure what cam to recommend--I've had good luck with Foscam units, and yes you can turn-off their IR LEDs if you want. And of course to cap from these you need a PC running 24/7 with its motion detection/capture software running as well.

Good Luck!

A 24/7 PC is not a problem, assuming that this function wouldn't require all of it's resources. Some of the cameras have their own wireless receivers, but I'm looking for one that would be compatible with my wireless router instead. Cameras that record video internally are not of any use to me, because they only record for a short period of time. I want to be able to record as much time as possible, and hopefully, instead of just an email, it would sound an audible signal, so that I would be alerted during a situation, rather than after the fact.

Your mention of surveillance software caused me to Google for something. This was the first return:

Aaron's Computer Rental Webcam Spyware Class Action Lawsuit - Legal Information, Help & Assistance

Glad that I don't rent my computer...especially from AAron's.

seekermeister said:

Some of the cameras have their own wireless receivers, but I'm looking for one that would be compatible with my wireless router instead.

I understood that. These are very common these days; I mentioned Foscam because I have several. They operate on Wireless G (or B if you have an older router).

My router is an N, but I'm pretty sure that it is supposed to be backward compatible with G or B. What I'm now wondering about is the range when having to go through obstacles? The published range on most of these cameras are adequate, if the configuration was line of sight, but depending on where I put it, it may or may not be. The main parking lot that I normally use is on the opposite side of the building. So regardless of how I might set it up, the signal would have to penetrate several walls. If I park in a small lot that is opposite my balcony, the only thing between is the outer wall of the apt. However, if I put it there, the apt. complex is going to have to cooperate with me, because of some tree limbs that would have to be pruned.

Searching for surveillance software, I found a free program called ISpy...don't suppose you know anything about it?

Some security cameras give off a red glow when you look at them and there are some that are invisible. If you go into a cctv centre and ask which of there cameras are invisible in the dark they should point you in the right direction. Please bare in mind that cheap cameras will be cheap and the better quality and invisiblity are more expensive.

seekermeister said:

The main parking lot that I normally use is on the opposite side of the building. So regardless of how I might set it up, the signal would have to penetrate several walls. If I park in a small lot that is opposite my balcony, the only thing between is the outer wall of the apt. However, if I put it there, the apt. complex is going to have to cooperate with me, because of some tree limbs that would have to be pruned.

I'd say there's probably "no chance" a wireless camera would work from your main parking lot, but it'd cost you <$100 bucks to find out. I don't understand the tree limb comment--a tree limb or three are NOT likely to be anywhere near the signal barrier that solid walls are.