Recommend home security solution

[Red Squirrel]

One of my old "friends" is a big time thief and breaks into houses and cottages left and right. Every cop in this town knows him. He's hijacked cars etc.. He even broke into my parent's house years back when I still lived there, and stole a bunch of computer stuff.

His jail sentence just recently ended, and now that I own my own house and have more serious stuff here, I just can't take my chances. I want to setup a perimeter video surveillance system and possibly indoor too, but I don't want it to look like Fort Nox either. I want cameras that are rather concealed. I have perforated soffits so I was thinking some kind of white dome style camera that blends in. I'd want something that has a wide angle view so one camera gets like 180 degrees give or take, so like one camera per side of house, basically. I'd add another in the garage. These would go to a central location which would then record only when there's activity and also allow me to view via a web interface so I could just VPN in from work to check up once in a while.

I want something wired so I don't need to be changing batteries. All data/power would go to my server room and the system would be on it's own dedicated UPS with like 6 large marine batteries, so if the thief pulls my meter or cuts the hydro line, it's still recording.

I was thinking something like a Q-See system, basically, but my main concern is finding cameras that will blend in and not look crazy on the house.


Edit: Something like this would be awesome if it were smaller:

http://www.++++.com/products/?sku=54269&vpn=TPE-S44 & TV-IP501P&manufacture=Bundle Deals

POE is exactly what I'd like, as it's one less wire to run. The recording box could probably be an Atom or something and over all the switch + server would use very little power and have a long run time if the power goes out.

 

[Aus10]

Wow sounds like a bummer for ya, i got robbed awhile back and my parents installed a brinks system. Try coming from school with your back door kicked in and everything gone and you have to performe in a concert that night. I think cameras are better tho. You could build a room that is hidden behind a movable bookshelf lol. Iv always thought that was neat. I wish you luck with protecting yourself and your house tho...

 

[Red Squirrel]

This may be harder then I figured. Most of the ones I've found will not work at -50C which is the coldest it gets in winter. I'm guessing they would probably crack. I guess I could put them indoors at the key areas such as my office and server room and not worry about the outside. The idea is to catch them red handed so even if they do break in and steal other stuff the perp(s) will most likely at least check those rooms and get in the camera's view. Indoors also gives me more ideas such as fake smoke detectors.

http://www.spygadgetonline.ca/mini-wired-color-camera-smoke-detector-p-69.html

That actually looks pretty good. And the more I think about it, I'm better off sticking to something that uses RCA jacks that way it's universal and I can use a capture card of choice or a premade PVR. The odds are he wont try to break in again, but best to have the system and not need it than to not have it and need it.

 

[Aus10]

This just made me laugh out loud


Item Description


Using wired camera is a cheap and effective way to :

- Catch cheating wife or husband
but yeah that does make sense.Good luck

 

[Red Squirrel]

lol yeah I laughed at that too.

Husband: "Honey, I just installed a new smoke detector"
Wife: "But there's one right beside it!"
Husband: "Redundancy"

 

[wra18th]

This just made me laugh out loud


Item Description


Using wired camera is a cheap and effective way to :

- Catch cheating wife or husband
but yeah that does make sense.Good luck

Not speaking from personal experience (I hope) but sometimes you just have to do this.

 

[Aus10]

Lol im 15 but i toldmy girl friend about it and she just laughed. Wra18th- yeah i see what your saying, stupid mailman lol

That reminds me of a joke that is talking about blackmailing people and the kid goes up to the mail guy and goes i know everything and the mailman gets down to the kids level and goes then give daddy a hug lol. Sorry thats off topic but it was funny.

 

[bastage]

Problem with cameras is a mask eliminates the fear and effectiveness if the guy breaks in while nobody is home. If I was you I would be looking at a more traditional alarm with motion sensors, glass beak and door/window sensors. Plus a loud ass siren so if anything does get tripped your neighbors and leo's will be there momentarily.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Hmm good point, most of the theives probably do wear masks. An alarm system too is probably a good idea then.

Instead of the smoke detector I'm also thinking I could probably use a picture and have the camera within it. Need a picture of mona lisa now, so the eye can be the camera.

 

[michael b]

Aside from just having cameras, it might be smart to have some kind of home security system in place as well. If your cameras do not catch the burglars, the monitoring company will already have the cops on the way. I agree that if they do not want to get caught, they will be wearing some sort of a mask. Or, like the previous posts, maybe you will catch your wife cheating and not a burglar! Haha.

 

[Red Squirrel]

ADT seems quite popular, is that one of the better ones to go with? How exactly does it work, do they come in and install all the sensors for free and I just pay per month? Do they also have the smoke and CO detectors that tie in? I'm thinking if I'm going to be getting a system may as well get that type as well for the extra piece of mind.