Security cameras

[NYC Joe]

Hi.
Have a question for you guys.
Have a sister in law that recently there was attempted break in at her place. Nothing happened but obvious crowbar marks with a large crack in her door where they almost broke in.

Suggested that she should get security cameras.

Which ones?
I would like a wireless one to put in her hallway. Without being obvious. Or obvious is ok as it's really tall ceilings. But it's outside her door. With another one inside facing front door.

Any suggestions?

Also the more I thought about it. Maybe I should have one facing front door and facing the fishtank so I could watch them from anywhere!

Not looking for an $$$$ system but something that would work.

 

[thirty6]

I dont know types, whatever one gets selected make aure easy to download images for police otherwise its a glorified deterence. Hallway isnt bad if high ceiling.

 

[FMF0331]

Try super circuit.com

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Go to brick house security .com , don't get wireless cams they don't work as good as you think, get cams with good night vision coverage , a descent DVr with motion sensor recording , this way they only record when it senses motion and reduces DVr space loss , look into tamper proof cams with network capability so you can check your home from your pc or iPhone and android phone . Verizon offers this at a cheep price for fios customers .

 

[thirty5]

High ceilings are not a good thing. Video of the top of someones head is useless!!

You need a camera that is eye level.... There are ways of doing it discreetly.

 

[20gallonreefer]

I like the Q-see brand. It has capabilities for PTZ if you ever need it and it's internet enabled.

 

[thirty6]

Depends on hallway I'd say but either way, you need a clear pic of sub or its useless

 

[NYC Joe]

What about dropcam?
It's 150$ each. And HD.

 

[NYC Joe]

Also looking at foscam.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Best deterrent is a good alarm system that you test every once in a while.

One of my best friends is a licensed security company. I would be more than happy to get you a quote from him. (I have installed CCTV systems, but I avoid it because my liability insurance does not cover it and I don't do enough of it to justify pay an extra 5K a year for insurance!)

Best,

Alfred

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Having worked for 3 alarm companies I can say that the best alarm system is a big dog that makes lots of noise.

 

[garys reef]

+100

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Dogs can be killed, drugged or otherwise silenced and I have heard of it happening. A properly installed alarm can take several minutes to silence and by then it is too late, because the neighbors heard it. (Besides, you don't have to walk an alarm, LOL)

Alfred

 

[Butch618]

Super circuit is great and definitely don't go wireless along with not working as well they can also be interrupted (watched remotely) burglar then has footage inside your home

 

[MeanGreenEyes]

Having worked for 3 alarm companies I can say that the best alarm system is a big dog that makes lots of noise.

+1

<====My personal home security

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

1+ for big dogs beeing security especially pitbulls and German shepards too.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Knowing the inside of how things work at an alarm company alarms and cctv systems are not always reliable.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

It really depends on what is installed. Wireless systems tend to be less reliable than wired systems. While I do not do security, I have worked closely with those that do and find that when done right they can be very reliable.

As with locks, you can get past anything. The real question is- is it worth it? Does someone looking to steal a TV, Wii and a few hundred bucks in jewelry want to risk breaking into a house with an alarm? (or a dog)

Alfred

Knowing the inside of how things work at an alarm company alarms and cctv systems are not always reliable.

 

[tosiek]

+1 to the doggie alarm system and/or a basic alarm. Its a good deterrent for the majority of burglars looking for a quick hit. If your sister in law only had some damage to a door then something scared them away.

As chief said, alarms and CCTV only go so far. We went through alarms and CCTV recently and there are a few things you should weigh. The cliff notes of it all was that the times that CCTV does catch something its either blurry, face is obstructed, ect. Alarms only deter the burglars looking for a quick and easy break in. For the most part, all the experienced ones already know what to expect and get around it somehow. If they want in they will get in regardless of what you have set up. The quicker police/security get there the less damage you incur so you want an alarm with some sort of support system that triggers a response.

Either way there are big costs involved in any of the reliable alarms/camera systems. A simple wireless costco CCTV setup will be fine if this is the first burglary attempt in 5-10 years and a basic alarm will run you a couple hundred.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

A basic alarm installation would run between $100-250 and the Central Station (the alarm calls out for help and they call you and the police) can run from $15-30 a month depending on where you live.

Frankly, Central Station costs the alarm company about $3 per month. They make NOTHING and usually lose money on the installation. They make their money on the monthly fees. (When they buy the alarm equipment it usually comes with six months free)

So you have some wiggle room for negotiation if you sign a multiple year contract, but not much because they lose money for the first year or so.

Alfred