How to I Setup Security System to Observe backyard?

[[email protected]]

Someone is vandalizing my back yard - stealing stepping stones,
trampling on plants and breaking things.
The basement of the house is above ground and one side, with windows,
faces the backyard. I've an older model PTZ Sony camera with several
different video connections How you you all recommend I record
activity in the backyard?

Sorry for the Google post but Verizon removed all "ALT" groups from
their news server.

Thanks,

..

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per [email protected]:

How you you all recommend I record
activity in the backyard?

I'm in the same boat, albeit driven more by curiosity as to
what's eating all our vegetation.

I'm hoping you get some responses.

Sorry for the Google post but Verizon removed all "ALT" groups from
their news server.

www.individual.net. About 12 bucks per year. It's been
pretty good for me over the last 5+ years.

 

[G. Morgan]

Someone is vandalizing my back yard - stealing stepping stones,
trampling on plants and breaking things.
The basement of the house is above ground and one side, with windows,
faces the backyard. I've an older model PTZ Sony camera with several
different video connections How you you all recommend I record
activity in the backyard?

The simple way is to get a cheap IP camera and run some Cat5 between it and
your router. You should be able to get a decent one for $100 w/software.

Alternatively, you could build a DVR with a spare PC and a cheap input card
($50 Ebay). Then you could have multiple cameras and use less expensive
analog types if you wanted.

If the backyard area is viewable from a window that is close to a PC (or put a
laptop there), you could use a very cheap USB web cam.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per G. Morgan:

If the backyard area is viewable from a window that is close to a PC (or put a
laptop there), you could use a very cheap USB web cam.

I feel kind of dumb now. Never considered that the window
behind my workstation has a decent view of at least part of the
back yard.

I've even got said el-cheapo web cam sitting in a drawer - albeit
a USB2 device..... but the window's plenty close enough to use it
to shake down recording/storage/motion detection software.

What about night vision camera-wise?

 

[G. Morgan]

What about night vision camera-wise?

You'll have to light up the area you want to view (well). Either that, or
you'll need to get a better camera w/IR illuminators.

 

[JoeRaisin]

I like to use motion activated flood lights. They've been around so
long they don't scare anyone off any more but they do have one neat
effect. Whenever one comes on the first thing the prowler instinctively
does is look right at the light, giving the camera a great shot of the
guy's face.

Also, no matter how good the IR camera is, it's nowhere near as good a
picture as you can get with a decent color camera and a 500-Watt halogen
light.

Speaking of getting the perp to look at the camera here's one we are
trying - Don't know how effective it will be...

Perp has hit twice - in and out fast enough that he is gone by the time
the local pd responds to the alarm. Wears a hoody and is careful to
never let the existing cams get a look at his face.

Covert camera in a clock, the clock is on the wall directly above one of
those bikini-girl tool calendars.

The calendar was already in place and there was a clock in place as
well. It's just a different looking clock now... and, of course, it's
now a new month...

 

[Frank Olson]

That ought to work unless the perp is gay or female. :^)

That would also be an "easy fix". But unfortunately you'd have to wait
until the results of the next break-in were "in". If the perp doesn't
look, change the calender to one of them "wall of flame" firefighter
ones. You'll be sure to nab him then!