Need back porch security

rhythm_guy

October 28, 2007 13:29

Daughter's family recently has been finding cigarette butts inside the screened in back porch in the mornings. Sometimes just ashes, sometimes butts. So far no harm done, but you never know, and they have 4 girls, all 5 and under.

I'm wondering if somebody can point me towards some kind of security camera, nanny cam, or something that could record a few nights until something shows up. I'm not too familiar with the technology (my first impression would be to go old school and put on some cammo and sit in the bushes, but we all have day jobs), and a couple of quick internet searches show you can run up into a lot of money in a hurry.

Anybody have any ideas about a relatively inexpensive camera system that could record a whole night? Maybe with a motion sensor or something? I'm totally clueless. Any advice would be appreciated.

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  cce1302

  October 30, 2007 06:48

  I'm a big fan of the command detonated claymore. Safe for the kids to play near during the day, but at night when you hear something on the porch, hit the switch and 900 or so quarter inch ball bearings fill the air.
  Don't forget "Front toward enemy."

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  rhythm_guy

  October 30, 2007 13:56

  Yesterday's update (I haven't been around computer since I got this news) - Son-in-law called police, who said they think they have the guy in custody already. There is a house in their neighborhood that someone started renovating, and for some reason gutted it and then quit working on it. Homeless guy moves in, but feels confined, and goes to different neighbors houses each night to get some fresh air and smoke. Several other neighbors had already found ashes and buts at their homes, one neighbor sat up watching for him and called cops when he showed up.
  
  Hopefully it's all over with, but it's still a wake-up call - the guy was right outside and nobody ever knew it. Something for those of us who don't think about such things often to seriously consider.
  
  Thanks for all the input, and we'll all pay more attention in the future.

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  Old-Colts

  October 30, 2007 14:09

  Good news, hope this really does fix the situation. It sounds as though the police in fact have the individual in custody.

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  Rockatansky

  October 30, 2007 14:14

  quote:Originally posted by rhythm_guy
  
  Hopefully it's all over with, but it's still a wake-up call - the guy was right outside and nobody ever knew it. Something for those of us who don't think about such things often to seriously consider.
  
  
  "If you're not paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't watching you." -- probably no the best quote regarding this situation, but the idea is the same -- being a little paranoid often pays off. I have always had all kinds of high and low tech devices around house that would alert me of any intrusion, my friends thought I was insane until one of them had his parents house broken into at night while everyone was sleeping upstairs. Well, the best such low tech device is a dog, the wimpier the dog -- the better, it'll make the most noise. [:D]

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