Does anyone use security cameras or monitors at their business?
My shop/home sets about 250 foot off a highway in the middle of farmland. My closest neighbor is about a 1/2 mile away. I have people ask me all the time if I work alone, if I live alone, etc. I have had a couple questionable people in and out and found one guy in my livingroom a few months ago. (while I was speaking to one guy about pinstriping a truck, the other one wondered off. When I noticed he wasn't in the shop I took off through the other garage to the living quarters. Found him in the livingroom. I found out later he was mentally slow, and wonders off sometimes.) I go out of town on weekends sometimes and have come back to find beer cans in the driveway in front of the shop door.
Last week, I found a Bud can outside the back door. To me, that is getting too personal. No one needs to be walking around behind my building. We have had problems with farmer's pole buildings being broke into in the past few years.
I would like to purchase some outdoor cameras that can record on tape or be monitored on a tv screen. I know it is going to be expensive, but I want to be able to sleep at night knowing what's going on outside. I have an alarm system, but by time that goes off, they have already broke in. If people see cameras outside, maybe that would be enough of a detorrant to keep them from doing something they shouldn't. I have had kids pull in the driveway at 3:00am to sit in their car and drink. I turned on a bunch of lights when that happened and they realized someone was inside the building. You never know though whether it's just kids looking for a place to party, or someone wanting to break in.
If anyone has any information on surviellance cameras, it would be greatly appreciated. I feel I really need to get serious about this.
posted
Hi Pam. When I had my shop, I worked late lots of nights. I had a couple of scary incidents also. Keep regular hours posted. And don't open your door after. I work at home now. I always deliver all signs, and go to the places of business. It is unfortunate that women can't feel as safe as men working alone. Take care. (oh....I have alarm stickers on each window and door.)
posted
I have to pick up my security right now. She broke her tie yesterday and I have been pumping out fabulous "lost doggie" signs for hours yesterday. As far as cameras, I know of several people who just use them to see who comes into their front yard and such. They can watch the front of the house while working in their computer room. And, the traffic across the street. They are great for neighborhood watch programs too. I would love to afford a system just to catch the reckless drivers coming around the corner at high speeds when they know children are playing. It burns me up more than anything to see that..they need to be stopped. (and to catch the people who litter in my yard, now that would be great!)
------------------ Deb Creative Signs
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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They have regular video surveilance systems plus a WHOLE LOT more.
They sell video cameras that are so small you can hide them behind photographs hanging on a wall and you'd never know they're there.
I have a few of the microvideo cameras that I have used for fun stuff, like mounting to radio controlled cars and even for rear view vision from vehicles for backing up.
You can at least get an idea of the cost of these systems.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
You sure do need some security. A large dog sounds might be a good idea. They are the best warning systems available. Doesn't anybody have anyplace to hang besides a sign shop? I have a client here in Halifax. He sells a system that should help you. It hooks up to a computer. His name is Rob MacCara. His company is MaCara Integrated P C's. Email address is rob@mips.ns.ca. He should be able to help. Good luck. Could be a little cheaper buying up here with the exchange rate.
I had a black lab for a while and one morning as I opened the bedroom curtain a man walked past the window and the dog just about went through the window after him. The guy was a veigrant(sp)looking for a place to sleep. (I called to friend to come see who he was and what he wanted and that's what the guy told my friend). The dog scared the guy as well as many other people, but he also got to the point he would bite customers at random. He past away and I find having a couple used targets from the shooting range hanging on the wall sends a message to peolle without having to feed it or have vet bills (like having a scarey dog). I put the targets up after a day at the shooting range and was surprised at the difference in attitude people have when seeing them. When they ask about the bullseye with the 357 mag. I just casually tell them shooting is my hobbie. I would never have the guts to shoot someone, but I'm not telling them that. I have mixed feelings about guns and don't want to start a debate on the topic. Security company customers have told me the best defense is a well lit building, good alarm system, dead bolts etc. I would rather have visable cameras so the place doesn't look inviting in the first place. I do have alarm company stickers on all windows too.
My single female neighbor a mile down the road was broke into during the day about 6 months ago. The guy broke into her garage, parked his van inside, rummaged through the house, fixed himself some lunch and stole thousands of dollars worth of computer, stereo, and entertainment stuff. He later went to another house a mile away and that woman caught him coming out of the bedroom with her computer in hand. He took off running and left a loaded gun on her bed.
I don't want to sound paranoid, just want to secure my place a little bit. I will check the websites mentioned and make some phone calls the first of next week. I appreciate any and all information that is given. What a wonderful website this is. So many wonderful, helpful, caring people in the sign industry.
Thanks again everyone, for your time and information.
Have you tried Radio Shack for intercoms, and flood lights? I used to watch the war movies and they scared the daylights out of me. Plus they had some sound. I know that signs are effective too, stating "get out" messages or a picture of a fierce dog with teeth. I used to make them for customers and they go well on cars too to deter some.
------------------ Deb Creative Signs
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Geese, no need worrying whose going to feed the dogs. Geese are the answer, that is if you are truly worried about break-ins.
Geese will save the day to all that enter your property without permission, then come Christmas whats better than a Christmas Goose... After geese come security cameras and alarm systems.......
------------------ aka/ HotLines Joey Madden Pinstriper and manufacturer of Killerkarts http://members.tripod.com/Inflite
This is a great topic btw, don't ever remember it coming up here yet.
Motion lights have been part of our homes for many years. They are great. Who wants a light switching on when they're trying to sneak around? Very effective, and also alerts you to something moving out there.
Got some nice big dirty boots handy? Put them by your back door. Along with a huge dog bowl with crunchies. Fake it.
Also, it makes even me feel nervous that strangers are able to walk around your place. Would a fence and gated entryway be out of line to keep intruders out? Let me tell you how effective this is! Today I had a rig waiting out on the road for me. I didn't see him immediately. We have a gated entryway, and he didn't want to trespass by opening the gate, even though he had an appointment! LOL After only living here three years, I even feel insecure knowing I left the gate open when I do on occasion. It's such a comfort knowing your fenced in and the gate is closed.
If I lived alone in this place (we have 5 acres on farmland), I'd get a dog immediately and let him run loose in our fenced in property. But since I'm not alone, I'm not all that interested in cleaning up more poop than I already do with three cats, a toddler, a horse and 40 chickens!
Re: security camera, I had it in one of my storefronts. My work area was in a separate room from the front desk at the time, so I had a camera on my desk that aimed at the front door. It was terrific. However, I vowed to never have a separate front desk again. I like it all in one large room personally.
I will tell you this though. When I had the camera set up at my shop (I also had the option to tape my work area which I did for only about a week), people's eyes darted to that camera even before our hellos. It was very effective. Ensure you put SMILE, YOU'RE ON CAMERA decals here and there. Everyone hates them, but it gets the point across.
In your pradicament, I personally vote for motion lights first, and a fence would make a huge difference if it's in your budget.
posted
Pam, I put together a system with parts from Radio Shack. The wireless remote camera, receiver and tape deck costs around $300 and works quite well for a small office, home or shop. I'm working on a 'motion-sensor' switch to turn it all on unattended. The small wireless camera can be hidden in a flower arrangement or someplace inconspicuous and will transmit to the receiver up to 100 foot. Up to four cameras can be controlled with the one receiver and can be set to cycle through each camera for a few seconds view from each. You can connect to a TV or VCR or both. Image quality is not that great from these small units but plenty good enough to recognize people's faces. Set a 'bait' close to your camera, no thief can resist money, so a few dollar bills on a table in close range of your security system will get you a good recorded image. I'm sure there are much better systems available but for the cost this one will suffice for most situations and if you already have a VCR you can save about a $100 on the overall cost.
------------------ Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where gonna find the time to do it over?
Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Pam, One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is "Dummy" camaras. These are real camara with no insides except a battery/charger for a little red light on top of it. the cord coming out of the back going inside your business is just a power cord to run the charger and the battery is there if they would somehow cut the power. I do think if they are going to the trouble to cut the powere the camara or any alarm system is useless, they are not worried about it at that point, they WANT IN!!!!!
Just a thought......
------------------ Troy Haas "Metal_Leg" on mIRC
SAM Signs & RPM Auto Graphix 931 W. Columbia street Evansville,Indiana 47710 812-437-5367 Home of the: "Brush Fire at the Hose House" Letterhead Meet April 27-29th,2001
"Chaos, panic, disorder - my work here is done."
Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi Heads, You can purchase some cameras over the net. And you can install them yourself, check out http://www.trlsecurity.com They ship just about anywhere.
------------------ Rich Litzenberger RICH DESIGNS Emmaus,PA brassring@netzero.net "People have more FUN than anyone"
Posts: 29 | From: Allentown PA | Registered: Oct 2000
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