Home Security

Hi guys,

Hoping someone will be able to give me some suggestions, as I haven't much of an idea at the moment...

Planning to secure the home up a little, so I'm looking at options.

Recently had a few things stolen out of the garden, probably opportunists...but our neighbours have had actual break-ins recently so it wouldn't be a bad idea install some precautions in case someone get some more funny ideas.

I will defo look at getting an alarm fitted, and improvements to windows/doors - one thing I was think of getting first is some video cameras, at least 4 to 6, something would could monitor remotely or network would be a nice feature too.

Any one have suggestions for this? Budget, lets say 500 for the whole kit (cameras and box) is that reasonable?

Any help is much appreciated!

If you want to be able to use the camera footage as evidence it needs to be time and date stamped.

I think it also has to be pretty clear for it to be worth anything.

I started a thread a while back about CCTV. I'll see if I can find it.

edit here we go - http://forums.hexus.net/general-disc...-cctv-law.html

Sorry for my brief earlier response.

You might be looking at a couple of grand for something that could be used as evidence.

I researched this some time back but didn't do anything as speaking to the local beat copper at the time gave me the impression I might have a tough job getting anyone to look at the footage if anything did happen.

I spent the dosh instead on a monitored alarm system

Why not just get something like this?

http://www.c-p-p.co.uk/external-infr...d-flashing-led

Sure it's not going to fool a real determined robber, but it's probably good enough to deter general opportunists.

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Originally Posted by pctech2012

Sorry for my brief earlier response.

You might be looking at a couple of grand for something that could be used as evidence.

I researched this some time back but didn't do anything as speaking to the local beat copper at the time gave me the impression I might have a tough job getting anyone to look at the footage if anything did happen.

I spent the dosh instead on a monitored alarm system

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No problem sir,

I was looking at monitored systems vs dialers / 3G wireless alarms...this will probably sounds like a silly question with an obvious answer, is there any extra benefit with a monitored system, as opposed to a system that could notify us direct via text / call? (also considering members of the family work pretty close to home, so they could get back pretty quick if need be).

I would look into dawn to dusk lighting all around your property - cameras are fine, but only is you can see their faces!

Also look into planting thorny hedging - like pyrachanthus bit longer term but grows fast

I was in a similar situation to you a few years back. Old lady next door getting burgled, things going out the garden etc. Not been suggested, have you considered a dog? At the end of the day it's about making your place a less appealing target than the next one. Nothing does that better than barking and snapping teeth behind the door. Of course it's very dependant on your circumstances and you're making a long term financial and time commitment, but since buying a dog I've only one person come in my garden uninvited and they chose to dive back over the fence head first rather than stay and play with him. :D Not to mention the fringe benefits, people with clipboards refuse to come through the gate and they're great exercise.

http://i.imgur.com/1KK5y.jpg

Sorry to hear about your property getting stolen. I used to go travelling the whole Uk with a mate when he had to do stupid calls, I.e travel to Glasgow from S Wales to change a fuse when a lorry reversed into the electric fence. So from what I remember off the top of my head is this. If you have a CCTV system and its recording via your home PC a good lawyer will get the thief off as a pc could have software which can tamper with the evidence i.e like photo shop and there for not admissible in court. I remember him telling me he fitted a rather expensive wireless alarm system, the infra red sensor had a great feature every now and again they would go into sleep mode to save the battery, like wtf. There are 2 different types of monitored alarms, 1st is when the alarm goes off the monitoring center will call you and inform you of this. 2nd are systems like ADT where once the alarm is triggered it turns on mics around the property and the centre will listen in, these tend not to make any noises but informs police for them to catch them in the act.

If you are looking at cameras you are best getting some WDR true day night ones (not ones with IR's), they are expensive but you should be able to pick them up cheaper on ebay, you should be able to cover a huge area with just 1 camera with these and you can get DVR's for a ton with a 500/1000 GB HDD aswell there

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Originally Posted by chuckskull

I was in a similar situation to you a few years back. Old lady next door getting burgled, things going out the garden etc. Not been suggested, have you considered a dog? At the end of the day it's about making your place a less appealing target than the next one. Nothing does that better than barking and snapping teeth behind the door. Of course it's very dependant on your circumstances and you're making a long term financial and time commitment, but since buying a dog I've only one person come in my garden uninvited and they chose to dive back over the fence head first rather than stay and play with him. :D Not to mention the fringe benefits, people with clipboards refuse to come through the gate and they're great exercise.

http://i.imgur.com/1KK5y.jpg

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Hi chuckskull, it is a really good suggestion and something we have considered in general - I'd love to get a dog personally! like you say though - circumstance wise, I think at the moment we're all very busy...might not be so bad on a older dog, but will be unfair on the pup :( Have you got a dog yourself? :)

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Originally Posted by technodean

Sorry to hear about your property getting stolen. I used to go travelling the whole Uk with a mate when he had to do stupid calls, I.e travel to Glasgow from S Wales to change a fuse when a lorry reversed into the electric fence. So from what I remember off the top of my head is this. If you have a CCTV system and its recording via your home PC a good lawyer will get the thief off as a pc could have software which can tamper with the evidence i.e like photo shop and there for not admissible in court. I remember him telling me he fitted a rather expensive wireless alarm system, the infra red sensor had a great feature every now and again they would go into sleep mode to save the battery, like wtf. There are 2 different types of monitored alarms, 1st is when the alarm goes off the monitoring center will call you and inform you of this. 2nd are systems like ADT where once the alarm is triggered it turns on mics around the property and the centre will listen in, these tend not to make any noises but informs police for them to catch them in the act.

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Thanks for this reply, because the other week....i was thinking the exact same thing. If the video needs time / date etc, why can't I just add my own timecode? And like you say, they'd argue it. I'd still consider it, in addition to an alarm, and just for our own monitoring purposes.

I've looked at a few wireless alarms, made by Visonic! I think this is what we'll get rather than monitored...but with a gsm add on module.

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Originally Posted by Barry

If you are looking at cameras you are best getting some WDR true day night ones (not ones with IR's), they are expensive but you should be able to pick them up cheaper on ebay, you should be able to cover a huge area with just 1 camera with these and you can get DVR's for a ton with a 500/1000 GB HDD aswell there

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Thanks for your reply barry, I will check those out!

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Originally Posted by polar

I would look into dawn to dusk lighting all around your property - cameras are fine, but only is you can see their faces!

Also look into planting thorny hedging - like pyrachanthus bit longer term but grows fast

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Good point, We've been doing building work so gardens in a mess, but once it's tidying up I'll make sure it's light up nicely.

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Originally Posted by HSK

Hi chuckskull, it is a really good suggestion and something we have considered in general - I'd love to get a dog personally! like you say though - circumstance wise, I think at the moment we're all very busy...might not be so bad on a older dog, but will be unfair on the pup :( Have you got a dog yourself? :)

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Yeah I have a German Shepherd. He's a star. My dad and granddad always kept them when I was a kid, so I've got a big soft spot for them and they're hugely protective. Like all dogs, very time intensive though. Realistically you're looking at a couple of hours a day even for a smaller dog, more with something like a GSD. No good if you're busy :(

+1 for sensor-activated exterior lighting.

I recently had a quote for a professional PIR-based home security system to be fitted. Was something in the region of £600 for the HW & install*. As well as visible/audible alarm it would also call/send you text in case you weren\'t at home. 24x7 monitoring was an extra monthly charge but I don\'t remember how much as you could change the notification number at will so if for example you were out of the country you could set it to a friend/relative near your home for the time you were away.

* for this stuff to get your home contents insurance down it needs to be certified HW and installed by certified people.

If you have CCTV installed, i am sure you must Label the area with signs saying CCTV and the like.

I would get the signs, some dummy cameras and get some good lights out the back that light up your garden at night.

Better to deter them, than trying to capture them after they have nicked your gear.

You don\'t need warnings afaik

CCTV installed in domestic premises has no requirement in law for CCTV signs.