Intruder in my back yard

[CainA]

Video camera's are cool:



-Cain

[xdfanatic]

Just curious Cain A what does a system like that run(if you don't mind me asking)? The images are pretty clear and if the price was right I think that it would be pretty practical if you live in a bad area or you were worried about your stuff outside. I have thought about it but I have always thought that my neighbors might take it as I am really paranoid or also possibly selling drugs (possibly). Then again its great to see whats going on outside without having to leave the safety of my house, and to have evidence if something were to happen.
Xd

[92f-fan]

maybe I'm reading this wrong but ...

If I hear something in the back yard my choices are :
Ignore it and hope it was nothing
Stay inside with my weapon and dial 911..

I cant say that Im ok with those being my only 2 options.

[CainA]

$700 and you'll need to designate a computer to be your DVR and server. And as long as you have an internet connection and Internet Explorer(Active X control) you can monitor it from anywhere in the world(or outer space if they have internet there). In addition to my computer(DVR), I have a little netbook hooked up to our TV in the bedroom, so that if I want to see what's happening outside, I just need to change inputs on the TV and take a peek.

A lot of people that come to the house for whatever don't even notice them and if they do they just shrug it off. I installed these when the house was being built so it made it easier, but if you can somehow fish the wires(one wire per camera-supplies power and carries the video signal) then it shouldn't be too bad to install on an existing home.

http://www.sunsecurity.com/security-cam ... ty-systems" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BTW..I have no affiliation with the company.

-Cain

[KD5NRH]

There is no upside in going looking for him or them in a low light, 360 degree threat environment and exposing the most effective potential defender to being easily neutralized (read "shot and killed")

So you're saying he should've gone out ahead of the dogs? :D

[Excaliber]

maybe I'm reading this wrong but ...

If I hear something in the back yard my choices are :
Ignore it and hope it was nothing
Stay inside with my weapon and dial 911..

I cant say that Im ok with those being my only 2 options.

You might want to add:

Turn on the outside lights and look outside from inside to more accurately assess the situation. Lighting up outside while leaving inside blacked out lets you see what you need to without giving away your location or exposing your movements.

If you've got solar screens on your windows you're in even better shape because they'll mask small movements in blinds and drapes.

[The Annoyed Man]

Just curious Cain A what does a system like that run(if you don't mind me asking)? The images are pretty clear and if the price was right I think that it would be pretty practical if you live in a bad area or you were worried about your stuff outside. I have thought about it but I have always thought that my neighbors might take it as I am really paranoid or also possibly selling drugs (possibly). Then again its great to see whats going on outside without having to leave the safety of my house, and to have evidence if something were to happen.
Xd

Why would your neighbors even know about the extent of your security system, unless you show it off to them? The system installers are just workmen doing something to your house. If your neighbors ask, you can just tell them that you're having your alarm system replaced or brought up to date. They don't have to know about all the cameras.... unless you tell them.

Besides, you know you're not selling drugs, so who cares if that's what they think. You know different, and you can prove it. On top of that, I know all of my neighbors and we get along pretty well, so they're not likely to think something like that about me anyway. Good neighborly relations can go a long way to dispelling that kind of nonsense.

[RHenriksen]

... have a 200 plus pound English Mastiff in the back yard and three big dogs inside. ...

Holy moly! Got a saddle for that thing?

[whodat1]

I locked the gate, The bad thing is out meter is in the back yard so we cant lock it during the day or they cannot come read our meter.. but we lock it at night now.

I started leaving my gate locked all the time this summer and the utility company kept complaining that they couldn't read the meter. After three months in a row that they couldn't read it, they sent me a letter saying if it happened a fourth time, they would turn the electricity off. I called them up and told them that all they have to do is knock on the door and we would let them have access to the meter. They tried to tell me that they did this, but when I told them that I could prove that there is a responsible adult at my place 24/7 and they never knock at the door, they caved in. The placed a newer digital meter in place that the could be read remotely.

I'll bet all you have to do is call them up, tell them that your gate is going to be locked and that they should install a digital meter at your residence. It's worth a try at least.

[CC Italian]

Well after reading this post it got me thinking and I called Center Point gas/electric and gave them the combo for a number lock I just installed on the side of my house. They were more then happy because I told them it was for security reasons and they now have it on file. The said they do it all the time and it was not a problem. Get a number lock and give it to your provider. Unless a prowler has bolt cutters or wants to jump a 7 and a half foot fence he is not coming in my back yard. Carrying around bolt cutters and a man jumping a 7 foot plus fence in the middle of the day is not something most burglars want to do. At least it will help deter them a little.

[KD5NRH]

Why would your neighbors even know about the extent of your security system, unless you show it off to them? The system installers are just workmen doing something to your house. If your neighbors ask, you can just tell them that you're having your alarm system replaced or brought up to date. They don't have to know about all the cameras.... unless you tell them.

I thought about painting my camera housings to match the eaves, but instead I just arranged them so that nobody can get into position to disable one without being in full view of it or another camera. As I've posted here before, I know the visible cameras deterred at least a pair of ill-intentioned kids.

[xdfanatic]

TAM, I agree with you about the neighbors and honestly as you said I think it's none of their business anyway. I guess I was thinking that having some big cameras hanging on your house would look odd but after looking at the system I am seriously interested. I get along with the neighbors on both sides of me but there are a few weird neighbors across the street that never really come out front so I don't really know them. My comment about the drug thing was referring to back in my early college days where I lived in a not so good neighborhood and there were some guys that were dealing drugs out of their house. They had all of these big sort of box cameras hanging off of the front of the house which just made you notice them as they seemed out of place. Eventually and thankfully they got busted.

Cain thanks for that info, I am definitely going to look into that system it makes good sense to me.

[CainA]

Here's how "obvious" the camera's are:
They're silver in color and along side the motion lights(which are white). You have to click on the thumbnail to get the full size capture.

They're handy, but they're fun too. You can watch yourself mow the yard in high speed(fast forward) if you want. Keep an eye on people you hire to do work around the house when you're not home.



But, for $700 you could buy another nice gun, whatever you choose.

-Cain