Before you go to the camera setup, try some bright lamps with motion detection. I had some trouble here with wild dogs and that took care of them. Ditto at the community park with the pot smoking teenagers.
The problem with having a video of your trouble-makers is that nothing will come out of this until you convince the police to take a look at it and do something about it. I am guessing plastic flamingoes (or any property damage) are not that high on their list.
Also, check your state and city laws on their laws and regulations for videocams on public places. I understand that some states (some if this was brought up in our Community Association in FL) require you to keep the record for a certain length of time and make it available to law enforcement.
Fake Cameras should be your second step if lights fail. Real cameras would come after.
(Oh, and if you are over 30 and have no kids or sensitive pets, you might want to consider a Mosquito buzzer to keep the teens away)
This is a place I’ve looked at before. They might have something to fit your needs.
Never bought because they have so many choices.
And now they have expanded their line. Watch out for all the popup ads. http://x10.com/
(These clowns are stalling me from viewing their site by popping up ads that go right back to their site. )
I do have motion-sensor lights on my porch, but I guess they could be brighter. I’m a little nervous about fake cameras, because if they steal one and realize it’s fake I’ve lost my credibility.
The cops have actually been really nice - they sent somebody out when I called about the first ladder, which was the first time, and the light up palm tree (I know, but I thought it was so weird to have a decoration like that stolen that I called thinking maybe it was a pattern), and the birdbath which a) was expensive, b) had sentimental value to me, and c) was distinctive enough that I thought it might get recovered. They send somebody out who’s really nice about it and writes a report. Would they investigate if I had video? No idea, but they definately haven’t been dismissive of my problems. The poor guy they sent out after my palm tree actually knocked on doors on my street! (That being said, he and I both suspected my neighbors, who I’d called the cops on for their constantly barking dogs twice right before that.)
Posted by Sapo
'(Oh, and if you are over 30 and have no kids or sensitive pets, you might want to consider a Mosquito buzzer to keep the teens away)"
For the teenage thugs in my neighborhood I suggest a cattle prod. I caught a couple of them stealing my bird feeder and made them put it back. Of course an hour later it was gone again. Vindictive little bastards. :dubious:
Well, if you have a history with you neighbours, that’s a start.
Is there a window with a good enough view of your yard? Maybe all you need is a cheapo PCcam and spare yourself the nightmare of feeding and securing an outside camera.
Even if you can’t cover the entire yard with an inside cam, just leave a couple “unsecured valuables” (aka bait) in front of the camera to make sure you are getting a clean shot at the perp.
If the police have already been helpful with this, they are sure to welcome a video to nail a guy they probably already dislike for some other reasons.
And if it isn’t your neighbour, you might want to consider prosecution. You might be putting a high ranking gang dude in prison for 1 month just to see him come back with a taste for revenge.
It is always better to prevent the crime than to catch the perp.
Yeah, really the goal is to keep them from doing it, not to catch anybody. I’m sure it’s crimes of opportunity - I just need to make my stuff less appetizing than somebody else’s.
I hadn’t thought of just aiming a camera out a window. With two, I might even be able to cover the whole porch - but I’d need signs to let them know they’re there.
