I was just in a Bass Pro and they had tons of camouflage wildlife cameras. Maybe too pricey.
Deer-cams would be my choice. Ultrasonic sensors, stills or video, IR illumination or flash, weatherproof, good battery life, etc.
Deer cams are not a good choice, easley tampered with or stolen. Camera's out of reach of perp's has to be a priority, camera's in view of other camera's is a good idea.
I disagree. They are easily hidden in shrubbery and other places where one would least expect to find a camera. A visible security camera would be a deterrent but my impression is that the OP would like to determine the identity of the intruder.
I must say that it all sounds a bit odd; happening for several years, cigarette butts? I think that if I wanted to remain undetected, I wouldn't be peering through windows in broad daylight and, in the dark, the last thing I would be doing is puffing on a cigarette.
Here in the U.S. the general rule is you have to wait for a burglar to get inside your home, before you can take lethal action, even then you have to be in fear of your life.
These tiny AP/P2P/DVR/IP Cams are incredibly cheap ($15-25) and useful. IR LEDs for night vision, sound & motion triggering, micro SD card recording, internal battery, lots of included brackets & holders, transmits WiFi signal directly to smartphone (port 9527 app), etc. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111832265255
Alright, let me set the record straight. A camera would work for the balcony, but then it becomes an issue of getting good enough lighting for a decent photo. Cameras will not work for the casement windows, because they would be extremely obvious due to vertical blinds, unless they were hidden in the bushes as Mickster said, but then it becomes an issue of height, angle, and focus adjustment, not to mention avoidance of snow.
I got it!.... A trip wire for detection.... An erco flame thrower for confrontation (which also provides lighting for cameras)..... And cameras to film the confrontation with the flame throwers.
A small motion controlled camera, even if quite visible through the window blinds, wouldn't be noticed until after it caught video of the perp.
It all depends if you want to catch (video) the perp in the act by surprise, or dissuade them from trying. As others have noted, signs and/or fake cameras are enough to stop 90% of crime. Or at least make them commit the crime somewhere else
Alright, let me set the record straight. A camera would work for the balcony, but then it becomes an issue of getting good enough lighting for a decent photo. Cameras will not work for the casement windows, because they would be extremely obvious due to vertical blinds, unless they were hidden in the bushes as Mickster said, but then it becomes an issue of height, angle, and focus adjustment, not to mention avoidance of snow.
I got it!.... A trip wire for detection.... An erco flame thrower for confrontation (which also provides lighting for cameras)..... And cameras to film the confrontation with the flame throwers.
Sounds like a scene from Home Alone
This camera can be remotely placed, and zoomed in on the area of interest, has great resolution and illumination distance.
@erco, don't you have a picture of that guy in the smoking knit hat?
Alright, let me set the record straight. A camera would work for the balcony, but then it becomes an issue of getting good enough lighting for a decent photo. Cameras will not work for the casement windows, because they would be extremely obvious due to vertical blinds, unless they were hidden in the bushes as Mickster said, but then it becomes an issue of height, angle, and focus adjustment, not to mention avoidance of snow.
I got it!.... A trip wire for detection.... An erco flame thrower for confrontation (which also provides lighting for cameras)..... And cameras to film the confrontation with the flame throwers.
Sounds like a scene from Home Alone
Great idea. Then you can post the video on youtube so the police have evidence to charge you and the peeper has evidence for the lawsuit ;-)
I have a jumbl spy camera that I carry on-site to monitor my work area (history of tools disappearing) when I need to step away for whatever reason. Very cool device. I just tested it looking through my front window, using motion detection. It picked up on the postman perfectly but I have a lot of false triggers from waving shrubbery and passing cars, etc.
I have a jumbl spy camera that I carry on-site to monitor my work area (history of tools disappearing) when I need to step away for whatever reason.
That's a darn good idea, because I also have a history of disappearing tools.
Unless of course they find your camera and take that instead
After returning to my work area, I once caught a guy just helping himself to my hand tools (he wasn't just looking at them, they were in his hands). It did not end up in a brawl, but needless to say that a confrontation ensued.
Another one of my all time favorites is tool swapping. Nothing quite the same as buying a new pair of Klein diagonal cutters or lineman's pliers and having them swapped out for a pair that have been shorted on live wires.
Yeah I grew tired the false economy of tools that appeared to be up to the task but didn't last two minutes so I went for Knipex which have a tendency to sprout legs.
Another one of my all time favorites is tool swapping. Nothing quite the same as buying a new pair of Klein diagonal cutters or lineman's pliers and having them swapped out for a pair that have been shorted on live wires.
Are you sure you're not just suppressing the memory of having done that yourself?
Has anyone used the X-Band Motion Detector in a security application, I have played with it a little, added an audible confirmation to the available OBEX demo, seems very sensitive and have no doubt it can see through walls or windows. Or is this just considered a door sensor?
Are you sure you're not just suppressing the memory of having done that yourself?
I am quite sure. The times that I shorted my tools, I remember quite vividly, then I go buy a new pair, just to have them swapped.
TIP 1: Never cut the hot and the neutral together
TIP 2: When cutting a live hot, keep metallic parts of the cutting tool away from ground
TIP 3: Never assume there is no load on a neutral, just because you turned off a circuit breaker
TIP 4: Always assume that the wire you are cutting has a load upon it, until you prove otherwise
These tips will help to ensure the longevity of your hand tools. Of course you could always shut off the main, but where is the fun in that. Nothing quite the same as molten tool metal to wake you up and let you know that you are still alive
I'm not sure if PIR sensors will work through glass. Walking past a room with a closed door that has a window does not set of the PIR in the room, while walking by with the door open does.
I have one from my last parallax order and will check it out tomorrow.
So, what exactly is the problem if they see a camera pointing out the balcony and/or casement windows?
They then know that you know.
If they keep up after that, you know you have more than a casual curious neighbor and can prioritize this a bit more as it seems if might need.
Seriously though, a couple of years and you're penny pinching on figuring out who is watching you?
Dropping cigarette butts at that?
Get a couple of spare cell phones or some cheap $20 pay as you go ones, and run them on their 120v chargers. I don't have the link at hand, however I believe there is an app which will let them d/l clips via wifi to a tablet or laptop to save space.
So, what exactly is the problem if they see a camera pointing out the balcony and/or casement windows?
If they see the camera without me obtaining a quality image of their face, then I have failed my objective. I want to know who it is.
On the outside, these locations are pretty dark at night. To obtain a quality image, there must be proper lighting. Where is the light going to come from?
Comments
I disagree. They are easily hidden in shrubbery and other places where one would least expect to find a camera. A visible security camera would be a deterrent but my impression is that the OP would like to determine the identity of the intruder.
I must say that it all sounds a bit odd; happening for several years, cigarette butts? I think that if I wanted to remain undetected, I wouldn't be peering through windows in broad daylight and, in the dark, the last thing I would be doing is puffing on a cigarette.
Yeah, I know, and now you know I know. You should be feeling bad right now. Go home.
I got it!.... A trip wire for detection.... An erco flame thrower for confrontation (which also provides lighting for cameras)..... And cameras to film the confrontation with the flame throwers.
Sounds like a scene from Home Alone
It all depends if you want to catch (video) the perp in the act by surprise, or dissuade them from trying. As others have noted, signs and/or fake cameras are enough to stop 90% of crime. Or at least make them commit the crime somewhere else
This camera can be remotely placed, and zoomed in on the area of interest, has great resolution and illumination distance.
@erco, don't you have a picture of that guy in the smoking knit hat?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/pesci.gif%3Fw%3D650&imgrefurl=http://uproxx.com/webculture/theyll-be-wasted-for-christmas-the-10-best-drunk-santas/&h=240&w=500&tbnid=GzDwq75wpsbyLM:&q=home+alone+smoking+santa&docid=TGKQGAwbS7Ga0M&ei=9ZaJVr_nI8XfmAHKzJLwCA&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwj_tdOdz47KAhXFLyYKHUqmBI44ZBAzCAMoADAA
A raspberry pi should be plenty capable of this. you'd use computer vision and face detection most likely, and snap a shot when you see a face.
Great idea. Then you can post the video on youtube so the police have evidence to charge you and the peeper has evidence for the lawsuit ;-)
Yes, I realize you were just joking.
http://www.amazon.com/Jumbl-JU-SC02B-Hidden-Detection-Infrared/dp/B00JKUKWG8
That's a darn good idea, because I also have a history of disappearing tools.
Unless of course they find your camera and take that instead
After returning to my work area, I once caught a guy just helping himself to my hand tools (he wasn't just looking at them, they were in his hands). It did not end up in a brawl, but needless to say that a confrontation ensued.
-Phil
https://www.parallax.com/product/32213
.
I am quite sure. The times that I shorted my tools, I remember quite vividly, then I go buy a new pair, just to have them swapped.
TIP 1: Never cut the hot and the neutral together
TIP 2: When cutting a live hot, keep metallic parts of the cutting tool away from ground
TIP 3: Never assume there is no load on a neutral, just because you turned off a circuit breaker
TIP 4: Always assume that the wire you are cutting has a load upon it, until you prove otherwise
These tips will help to ensure the longevity of your hand tools. Of course you could always shut off the main, but where is the fun in that. Nothing quite the same as molten tool metal to wake you up and let you know that you are still alive
I have one from my last parallax order and will check it out tomorrow.
So, what exactly is the problem if they see a camera pointing out the balcony and/or casement windows?
They then know that you know.
If they keep up after that, you know you have more than a casual curious neighbor and can prioritize this a bit more as it seems if might need.
Seriously though, a couple of years and you're penny pinching on figuring out who is watching you?
Dropping cigarette butts at that?
Get a couple of spare cell phones or some cheap $20 pay as you go ones, and run them on their 120v chargers. I don't have the link at hand, however I believe there is an app which will let them d/l clips via wifi to a tablet or laptop to save space.
If they see the camera without me obtaining a quality image of their face, then I have failed my objective. I want to know who it is.
On the outside, these locations are pretty dark at night. To obtain a quality image, there must be proper lighting. Where is the light going to come from?
Do what the nature photographers do - use infra red... of course only B/W image- but clear.
Dave