Security Cameras

[JJ_Tex]

I liked the multi-layer approach, and am happy with the results. Thanks everyone for their help and I hope this helps anyone in the future:

1. I locked the gate and also told the neighbor next door who also has his pool equipment on the other side of the fence. He locked his gate and is getting cameras too.

2. I added motion sensing solar lights to the fence. They were cheap from Amazon, but so far so good. I did some night testing and they lit up the equipment pad for me nicely, and also will hopefully scare away anyone who shouldn't be there at night.

3. I added blink cameras. I went with them because they were completely wireless, with the batteries lasting 2 years, had a good picture, had a good interface with my phone/ipad/Alexa, and you store the videos locally on a USB thumb drive inside the house so you do not have to worry about storing them on the camera itself or pay someone for cloud storage.


Solar lights on fence:





Picture from the camera:

 

[Texas Splash]

You still need one more thing .....................

 

[Dirk]

Hmm, the first picture didn't load for me, just the top sliver of it. Nice job on the security upgrade. I think you need one more item, to close off the view through that fence. You can stain some fence boards to match the current fence, and screw them onto the metal gate, or you can get something like this and use stainless steel wire to just weave this on.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Backyard-X-Scapes-96-in-W-x-72-in-H-Mahogany-Bamboo-Outdoor-Privacy-Screen/3864495

The security you added, which is great, is all designed to deter or catch a crook after he's decided to come rob you. Putting up a proper visual screen could deter a crook from even thinking to try...

 

[Dirk]

I put Schlage push-button door locks on both my gates, because combo and key locks weren't cutting it. I was always either on the wrong side of the fence, or without my key. The door locks work from either side, without a key. Great for allowing family or guests or service guys access, and they can each have their own code, and their access can easily be rescinded. My fences are solid, but I have one more to do that is a black metal gate, just like yours. I have a plan. I'll document how I do it and post it here for others...

 

[Newdude]

I was critiquing a customers set up one time. It was overkill on show but had no real meat to it. The customer (a Reverend at a church) put his hand on my shoulder and said ‘Son, I’m not trying to outsmart YOU. The crackies at 3 AM aren’t that bright.’ I fell over laughing but he was 100% spot on. It’s all about the deterrence. Make somebody else the easier target and they will skip over you.

 

[Dirk]

Yah, that was the only flaw in his plan. He convinced his neighbor to do the same upgrade!

 

[HeyEng]

Similar to the Wyze cameras, we use Yi cameras and they were really cheap (about $20 a pop). They have an SD card internally to record to as well as a cloud based subscription if you choose (about $100 a year). The ones inside the house are plugged into a universal power supply to keep them running in the event someone cuts the power. They work very well and are very easy to move around as need be. The screenshot is the desktop version of the software that I can watch. They also have motion sensing and the area that is "active" can be adjusted (size/area/sensitivity). Really, they are awesome for the price.

We also have a few strategically placed (hidden) game cameras that are an excellent backup and provide very clear images/video clips.

At one time, we had a hardwired system (last house we lived) and decided to go wireless for price consideration and ease of use.

While I don't expect to get things back if they are stolen, our local PD is VERY good about sharing video of property crimes on their Facebook page and they get many more arrests from them then you might expect.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I think you need one more item, to close off the view through that fence. You can stain some fence boards to match the current fence, and screw them onto the metal gate, or you can get something like this and use stainless steel wire to just weave this on.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Backyard-X-Scapes-96-in-W-x-72-in-H-Mahogany-Bamboo-Outdoor-Privacy-Screen/3864495

The security you added, which is great, is all designed to deter or catch a crook after he's decided to come rob you. Putting up a proper visual screen could deter a crook from even thinking to try...

You are completely right, unfortunately the HOA specifies the fence and would not approve anything not organic as a screen and the street facing portions much be the wrought iron gates. If you look really really closely in the shadow of my picture I planted a small cypress tree to achieve a screen. Maybe I should add another step to fertilize the Crud out of that thing.

 

[Dirk]

Ah, I see it. And the first pic is loading now. Yah, that light aught'a do the trick.

HOAs... What if your bamboo screen was behind the fence? It seems they wouldn't look down on anything that hides the equipment from the street, which all those "non-pool owner" types might mistake for something other than a thing of beauty. Two tree stakes pounded in, with the bamboo draped between? At least until your plant fills in...

 

[markayash]

You still need one more thing .....................

I had this for my profile once and a girl said you have to remove that..It creeps me out

 

[Texas Splash]

 

[markayash]

I found this one, I wondered how that made those scenes

 

[bmoreswim]

We have 6 Ring dogfinder cameras. Though there is still that place not well covered where they hide from us. Here's one of the views.

 

[JJ_Tex]

My new camera woke me up to a motion alert this morning. I really wasn’t expecting to see a bobcat! The screenshot isn’t the best quality but the video is much more clear.

 

[markayash]

My new camera woke me up to a motion alert this morning. I really wasn’t expecting to see a bobcat! The screenshot isn’t the best quality but the video is much more clear.

View attachment 314752

Cool, if you have dogs be careful, that kitty might not run form dogs

 

[Dirk]

Come on dude, you can't get up at 4 am to let your yappie chihuahua out to do his business, take a blurry, low-light shot of him and then try to pawn him off on us as a bobcat! That chibobua's got nothin' on the bear cub I had in my backyard the other day.

 

[markayash]

Come on dude, you can't get up at 4 am to let your yappie chihuahua out to do his business, take a blurry, low-light shot of him and then try to pawn him off on us as a bobcat! That chibobua's got nothin' on the bear cub I had in my backyard the other day.

View attachment 314754

You should see the 2 80 plus pds dogs run from my 4 pd Chihuahua He will tell them to get us and they run half way down and she meets them half way and they both run back to the house Elephant and mouse I guess

 

[AUSpool]

My new camera woke me up to a motion alert this morning. I really wasn’t expecting to see a bobcat!

Are you sure thats a bobcat, this is a bobcat.

E15462CB-6C26-4479-9B57-BEFD13241226.png

• AUSpool
• Jul 6, 2020

 

[AUSpool]

We recently went down the security rabbit hole and maybe I’m still desperately trying not to fall in. I installed some of those solar LED lights but they didn’t last long. I still cant get over how you have all that expensive gear out in the weather. I built a bomb shelter over my equipment pad. I would be enclosing it and put a lock on it, security and protection from the wether in one go.

Its still a building site in progress here, the construction fence has just come down and I’m looking to reinstall the “nail gun in use” sign somewhere.

I’ve always been a bit paranoid about hacking and avoided the web or wifi cameras. We went for a wired PoE system. And in one spot a hard wired flood light with motion detection.

Does adding visual security (cameras) say to would be thieves “stay away, where watching” or “we’ve now got stuff worth stealing”?

 

[markayash]

We recently went down the security rabbit hole and maybe I’m still desperately trying not to fall in. I installed some of those solar LED lights but they didn’t last long. I still cant get over how you have all that expensive gear out in the weather. I built a bomb shelter over my equipment pad. I would be enclosing it and put a lock on it, security and protection from the wether in one go.

Its still a building site in progress here, the construction fence has just come down and I’m looking to reinstall the “nail gun in use” sign somewhere.

I’ve always been a bit paranoid about hacking and avoided the web or wifi cameras. We went for a wired PoE system. And in one spot a hard wired flood light with motion detection.

Does adding visual security (cameras) say to would be thieves “stay away, where watching” or “we’ve now got stuff worth stealing”?

The down side to camera's is I could come to your house and steal your robot..If you have me on camera good chance nobody in your area will say " I know who that is".
Upside is they know I am watching and may ask them if they want some buckshot to go with that part they have in their hand..