CCTV

[The Disapproving Brit]

Some scumbag broke into my garage last week. Luckily the combination of garage alarm and bike alarm meant they shat themselves before actually taking anything, but it cost me a day's work and a couple of hundred quid to resecure the door and pick up a couple of CCTV cameras (these ones, if you're interested).

Right now, one of them is feeding into a spare laptop running Blue Iris using one of these. The other isn't currently recording.

I'm impressed with Blue Iris so far, and unless something more impressive comes along, I think it's going to be worth the £40 for the full version. I looked at ZoneMinder and iSpy, but neither of them really hit the spot. Any other suggestions?

Also, what CCTV setup do you use? Any tips as far as recording config, camera positions, gotchas to look out for etc? The setup I have now works for my immediate needs, but I'm going to want to expand and refine it before too long.
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[orac]

I used vitamin d when I lived in the city centre and some likely looking fellas moved into the same building. I used a modified web cam with the it filter removed so it would see IR light (combined with an IR torch thing it become a night vision camera).

I don't vitamin d exists anymore as it was bought out by sighthound which maybe worth a look
https://www.sighthound.com/
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Current rides - 2016 Triumph Street Triple Rx, 1994 Suzuki Bandit 400 VM, TGB 204 Classic 125cc
"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

[b422063]

I have a live camera setup so I can see the garage and other areas but that's it. Why would I want to record it? What would I do with the footage? Everyone shifty I've seen so far has worn a hoodie or done it in the hours of darkness so the image is anything but clear.

[weasley]

[Ribenapigeon]

All that kit you can get as generic stuff for a lot less.

I use;
camera: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Surveillance-Security/dp/B00H6XTW58/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1416827372&sr=8-35&keywords=cctv

recorder: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Friedland-Response-CA1-2-Channel-Recorder/dp/B003LY404E/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1416827437&sr=8-18&keywords=cctv+recorder

screen: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TFT-LCD-Rearview-Monitor-Pocket-sized-Automobile/dp/B006JY4TQW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1416827472&sr=8-4&keywords=lcd+screen

In fact my stuff was cheaper than the above examples just do a good search. I have a couple of these setups. One watches the whole shed and garden the second looks outward from the shed.

Ive had one conviction from the evidence from this setup. Unfortunately the toerag was a minor so just a slap on the wrist from the childrens panel but it shows you get good enough images from the setup for court.

As for shed doors and locks. Theyre shit unless you reinforce the doors and frames by sandwiching them between plywood and burying the hinges under the ply panels. Use those round locks you see used to secure van doors. I have it on good advice from an experienced thief these locks are a nightmare to get into. Like these, https://www.amazon.co.uk/HIGH-SECURITY-PADLOCK-HASP-FIXING/dp/B003BKVTNS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1416827966&sr=8-4&keywords=van+lock

Also use high reflective tape to create a bright target for the cameras at night so if anyone walks in front of them it will trigger the movement detection on the cameras.

[covent.gardens]

Whatever you use, I recommend you have some way of checking the footage via a mobile phone and an alarm that notifies you when it's gone off. There seems to be loads of apps for this, you just have to check compatibility etc.

When our house alarm goes off (covers garage) I get a call within 5 seconds, I can access our cameras within 20 seconds, and see immediately what's going down.

The android app came with the NVR, and I can use an old tablet or phone as a monitor anywhere in the house, or the monitor connected to the NVR in one room. And my smartphone when out and about, gives proper piece of mind (if I haven't received a call then I know everything's fine and can check any time). We've had one burglary and another attempted so it brings peace of mind.