Home Invasion in my Neighborhood

[TheGrey]

Brandon and Sideshow Bob, I'm greatly appreciative of your offers! May I bake you my special Army of Darkness cookies in exchange for the DVR and the wire?

Brian, what excellent advice and suggestions! I had no idea there was such depth to the care and feeding of cable.

CavSct, that's a great idea. I'm going to do that. I've actually been fretting about camera placement.

brutal- would you believe that we don't own any type of gaming system or adapter? That being said, I've got friends that are also interested in setting up cameras, and they have the whole gaming thing down. I'm going to pass them what you've posted- it's valuable information. Thank you!

[SideShow Bob]

Grey,
Someone beat metro the scrap pile and took the bulk of the cat 5 wire. I picked up what was left, three partial boxes, I think the total length is about 350 ft. between all three. I will take them home and we can work out getting them to you.

[TheGrey]

Thank you, Bob!

[jslo]

If Bob's 350 isn't enough I have a box that's been sitting in my garage for a few years.

[theGinsue]

I've been debating it for a few years, but this thread and recent activity in MY neighborhood is driving me to get a multi camera system myself.

I know myself well enough that I know I won't be getting my @$$ out to buy & replace batteries so it'll be a hard-wired system for me. I've terminated hundreds and pulled tens of thousands of feet of Cat6 cable, at work. Been looking for an excuse to buy my own set of tools (EZ45 crimpers & EZ45 connectors [my personal favorite for terminating Cat6], glow-in-the-dark fiberglass push rods, fish tape, & Cat6 continuity tester...I've got the rest already), this will be the excuse I need.

I've been considering how many cameras I want/need all this time as well. Proper cverage of the exterior of my home/drive will take 5 or 6 cameras; too many protrusions/corners to use less. How to route the cable through existing walls is the tricky part. I'll figure it out.

My neighborhood, which is also formerly WillysWagon and Nogarheli's neighborhood, has seen a huge uptick in car break-ins and home invasions. We have a limited actual neighborhood watch but an active Neighborhood Watch Facebook page. On Thursday morning, at about 0530, a neighbor 1 street behind me and up the block a bit chased down and caught someone who'd tested his car doors and attempted to force entry into his home. The bad guy had broken into and attempted entry into several other neighbors cars that night as well. It took the police over an hour to get there while neighbors kept the bad guy detained. That was Thursday morning, bad guy locked up and neghborhood safe and sound, right? Not so much. Last night, a house on the corner 2 streets behind me (I'm on a corner lot) had someone try to break in. Another neighbor saw this and called the police but the bad guy got away.

I have and actively use a home alarm system (every night at bed time and every time we leave the house unattended) as well as alarm systems on my vehicles. These aren't 100% deterrents, but buy me a little more piece of mind; tthe cameras will help double that.

[Irving]

I've been thinking about this is as well and it seems like it'd be easier to cover all the areas of a home by locating cameras at the edge of the property, pointing toward the house. Not all cameras should be run this way since that presents other problems, but I think it's worth some consideration, especially in the backyard.

[AR_ART]

Seems like a nice neighborhood too! I understand crime happens everywhere, just a bit surprising to me personally...

[Great-Kazoo]

I've been thinking about this is as well and it seems like it'd be easier to cover all the areas of a home by locating cameras at the edge of the property, pointing toward the house. Not all cameras should be run this way since that presents other problems, but I think it's worth some consideration, especially in the backyard.

While cameras pointing towards a dwelling sound good. the exposure to the elements (even though rated outdoor) can cause issues. Like snow or ice build up on the lens, wind or hail storm ripping them off their mount.
On the dwelling means you're seeing them before they are close enough to damage the camera. Exposed anyone can see as well as access them from a distance...

I would like 2 more added to the ones we have now. However climbing anything is not happening, including crawling around the attic.

[gnihcraes]

^ what he said. Blue iris works great, High Def POE cameras are reasonable and work great.

I've had to extend my recording archive time to weeks because I didn't realize something had been taken until days after the event. Being stored on a PC allowed the space to keep more data.

I run mine on an older high end laptop, easier to find the space to put it.

I have 6 or 8 network jacks wired up in the attic. I can add/move a camera without much trouble if I decide to change what I want to watch. (aside from minor angle changes on the cameras themselves)

[TheGrey]

If Bob's 350 isn't enough I have a box that's been sitting in my garage for a few years.

Seriously? You rock! If we end up needing it, cookies for you, too. Thank you!