Webcams and security

[venerable bede]

There have been a spate of burglarys in my street recently and I was thinking about setting up my own security.

I was thinking about setting up a webcam which would take and save image files whenever there was movement. I could then, I think, write a windows service to upload these images to a remote server so if the computer gets pinched I can catch the gits.

Does anyone know if this is feasable ?
Can I get webcam software to detect movement ?
Are there any better approaches that don't involve killing people ?

[si_the_geek]

Does anyone know if this is feasable ?
Yes, I've seen it before (cant remember where).

Can I get webcam software to detect movement ?
Yep, it usually comes with the web cams (especially more expensive ones), as it can be hardware dependent.

I'm sure you could buy it from somewhere though.

Are there any better approaches?
It is very similar to the out-of-hours security here (a FTSE 100 company), but obviously on a smaller scale.

The trouble is that you need to have high quality pictures (preferably video with audio) for them to be of use to the police. You also need to make sure that the pictures are off-site as quickly as possible, as you cant tell when they'll notice the camera/computer & destroy/remove it.

[mendhak]

Originally posted by venerable bede
There have been a spate of burglarys in my street recently and I was thinking about setting up my own security.

I was thinking about setting up a webcam which would take and save image files whenever there was movement. I could then, I think, write a windows service to upload these images to a remote server so if the computer gets pinched I can catch the gits.

Does anyone know if this is feasable ?
Can I get webcam software to detect movement ?
Are there any better approaches that don't involve killing people ?

Tie Bodwad to your front porch. He'll lick your intruders to death.

[venerable bede]

Originally posted by si_the_geek
Does anyone know if this is feasable ?
Yes, I've seen it before (cant remember where).

Can I get webcam software to detect movement ?
Yep, it usually comes with the web cams (especially more expensive ones), as it can be hardware dependent.

I'm sure you could buy it from somewhere though.

Are there any better approaches?
It is very similar to the out-of-hours security here (a FTSE 100 company), but obviously on a smaller scale.

The trouble is that you need to have high quality pictures (preferably video with audio) for them to be of use to the police. You also need to make sure that the pictures are off-site as quickly as possible, as you cant tell when they'll notice the camera/computer & destroy/remove it.

Thanks.

I was thinking about writing a windows service which detected changes in a folder, the folder new images are written away to, then uploading so I think this would deal with getting the images offsite.

Don't know where the hell I would find the webcam and software though.

[CyberSurfer]

Surely a cheaper solution would be to rig up a cheap infra red sensor which starts the webcam recording when it is triggered?

[Electroman]

A possible alternitive, Setup a normal suvalance camera and rig it to a video recorder and place the recorder in the loft. If anyone breaks in they will probably not have time to go up there so it would be ok, as long as the cameras are hidden well and the wire is hidden so its not easily seen it goes into the loft it'll be fine. A good way to hide the cameras is to get thoses boxes that the alarm sensors use and put the camera in one of those .

[dglienna]

X10.com has wireless video that record in color with sound. There is an option to record to vcr, and another to save to cpu. I also think that they have a monitoring service for your home. I used it at my last place. Had cameras in the hall, in the living room, and focused on the car.
Also had wireless motion detectors. Even had one inside the car that turned on the light above the car when motion was detected.
the camera didn't do well in the dark.

[LabtroRob]

So...

What happens when they break in and steal the expensive computer and webcam sitting there?

[MartinLiss]

Nanny cams

[dglienna]

camera's were about 2"x2"x2". the only giveaway was the power cable, which I didn't bother to hide. computer can be 100' from the camera's. it went to a wall wart anyways

[nemaroller]

Cheaper solution... get a rottweiler or german shepard.

Put him in the office at night... and only give him a cup of food.

[venerable bede]

Can you get wireless webcams and if so what gear would I need ?

[BodwadUK]

They can sit down with some popcorn and watch how well they did at stealing the computer

A wireless camera

[si_the_geek]

just saw an advert in a magazine, they have lots of different stuff, including wireless:

http://www.shepleydirect.co.uk/html/shepley_cctv.html

[venerable bede]

Thanks si but I dont buy off people who build there websites in Paint.

When the page loaded up I nearly had an epeleptic fit.

[si_the_geek]

I know what you mean, it isn't exactly proffesional.. it's good for a few ideas tho!

[dglienna]

X10.com has cameras, and kits for them. they transmit about 100 feet to a receiver hooked up to a vcr, or have an option for your computer, which I haven't used. they also send video data from room to room. it's cool, when you have X.10 devices plugged into your wall socket, and have a keyfob to turn them on and/or dim them. I had an apartment hooked up with them.
Could turn on the lights before coming up from the parking lot, and also turn off the alarm.

[venerable bede]

Looks good but I can't see anything about connectinf it to your pc.

[JPicasso]

I think locking your door
and installing motion detectors on your outside lights would
probably be the best value. Deterring is much better than catching.
catching means they could have dropped it in the ally, or nearest dumpster and you're out a computer.

[venerable bede]

I already have at the back of my place but it aint practical for the front because of all the passing people.

[JPicasso]

It would be practical to have a light on all the time then.

Also, make sure your window locks are not easily defeated.
I don't know what you have, but for double-hung, you can get
the ones that require you to squeze the latch before moving the lock for a few dollars a window.

Don't know if you're in a townhouse, flat or detached house but double check any basement entries are secure, etc.


I just think that prevention/ deterring is much easier and cost effective than going
through the hassle of monitoring your computer.

Unless of course you're trying to rig up your shower for when the honeys use it. then please provide us all a link.

[dglienna]

I haven't been there in a while, but THEY used to take care of the hosting.

Motion detectors turning on lights work pretty well, too.
Motion detector turning on stereo works even better

[SteveCRM]

x10 camera people

you mean no one actually looks at ads anymore?

[dglienna]

haven't heard a peep from them, or seen any ads since I stopped pop-up ads, and changed e-mail addresses. i have a whole box of their stuff from a few years ago!

they were doing 2.4gHz before cordless phones were, so they didn't interfere with them. Now, I gave my dad a video sender to send his cable-tv to the kitchen (wireless) and it gets interference from his neighbors (and his microwave oven, but thats to be expected)

He just bought a new phone, we'll have to see if there is a way to minimize interference problems when he gets his TV back into the kitchen.

Good stuff! [they also have x10pro.com for higher security stuff]
(it's black instead of gray!)