Quote Originally Posted by theGinsue View Post
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.
Yikes. Welcome to the club of "Neighborhood Blues." I'm sorry to hear your corner of the world is dealing with this.

I think the peace of mind cameras can bring, as well as actual deterrence, is worth the price and pain-in-the-butt-edness.