Percentage of thieves caught, security cameras in the home?

[Gamecock]

A friend told me years ago of his former neighborhood's security cameras. A robbery occurred, they got a great 8 X 10 glossy of the perp. When the officer was shown the picture, he said, "Who is that?"

The HOA man told him, "We don't know."

The officer said, "Well, I don't know him either."

At which point the HOA people realized the camera system was useless. And why I put in fake cameras in my neighborhood. Infinitely cheaper, and just about as effective.

I bought them at Radio Shack. Don't know who sells them now.

Also consider a trail cam. Cheap. No remote wiring. If you can place it somewhere, like high up, so that it can't be easily stolen.

 

[RSanch111]

A friend told me years ago of his former neighborhood's security cameras. A robbery occurred, they got a great 8 X 10 glossy of the perp. When the officer was shown the picture, he said, "Who is that?"

The HOA man told him, "We don't know."

The officer said, "Well, I don't know him either."

At which point the HOA people realized the camera system was useless. And why I put in fake cameras in my neighborhood. Infinitely cheaper, and just about as effective.

I bought them at Radio Shack. Don't know who sells them now.

Also consider a trail cam. Cheap. No remote wiring. If you can place it somewhere, like high up, so that it can't be easily stolen.

You have to know who you're talking to at the PD. Yes, the patrol guy might say "who's that", the detective might say "who's that", but if you get a guy worth his salt, he's going to show that picture around to his buddies or maybe even an intelligence group. Many PD's with people who know what they're doing have regular meetings with other detectives and surveillance cops in the area. They're going to show the picture around and eventually someone with a good source is going to say "I know who that is". Or, you will eventually find someone who gives a dam and they will put the picture on the local news and papers. Eventually some snitch is going to call the cop they've been working with to work their way out of a jam and give the guy up. Surveillance pictures like that are invaluable, if not for YOUR case, then for someone else', and they can often work their way into YOUR case. When it comes to criminals like that, ALL information is good information. For the money, I think covert surveillance cameras are well worth the price. Fake cameras have some deterrent value, but not if they prompt a burglary crew to just put a mask on if they really want what you have. I'd rather have covert cameras and have a picture of the scumbag who dared to rape me by breaking into my house and taking my stuff. Guys like that eventually always get caught.

PM me a mailing address and I'll be happy to mail you a sample of 3M Security Film. I'm a 3M Certified Security Films, Sun Control Films and Prestige Films Dealer covering West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.

I have no dog in the fight. Just a 30+ year cop who was in charge of a larger detective bureau......

 

[THEMULE]

Ranch111,
So, are you recommending the 3M window stuff?
Thank you,
Bob

 

[RSanch111]

Ranch111,
So, are you recommending the 3M window stuff?
Thank you,
Bob

Never heard of a burglary attempt that was defeated because of 3m window stuff. So that could either mean that it's great, or doesn't work.......But most windows can be fairly easily pried open...and breaking glass makes too much noise.....and it's easy to kick a door....and if there are good locks, it's easy to take a car jack or pneumatic jack and pry the door jambs.....an inch or two...... I think cameras are a good idea if you don't mine spending the money. They're not that expensive these days and they can record to the cloud so they can't steal your recording memory.... How much does it cost to retrofit a 2000 square foot house with 3m window stuff anyway???? Retail?

 

[BB57]

When it comes to security cameras, quality matters and so does lighting.

Many business and home owners have low quality cameras that produce images that make it almost impossible to positively identify the suspect.

And, there is usually further degradation when you have to use a single frame to get a still image from the video.

Video cameras also vary in their low light sensitivity. Some will produce a good daylight image, but produce incredibly grainy video in low light.

Ideally, you'll pair your video cameras with motion activated lights to fully illuminate what you are trying to video.

But, the short story is that unless you're willing to spend a fair amount of money on quality cameras and lighting, the value of the camera will be only as a deterrent.

 

[BB57]

One question, what kind of professional would do that type of work?

Check the yellow pages for people who install 3M window tinting - the odds are good that they also install 3M security film.

Window security films are also used in areas with hurricanes or high winds and again the film has to be anchored to the door or window frame to prevent the whole window from just being pushed in.

You can also do it yourself, using either a mechanical angle, or with structural silicone adhesive, but the key will be to remove the trim and sealing gasket so that the film can extend all the way to the edge of the glass and be bonded to the frame, before re-installing the trim.

 

[dld]

I have 16 Q-SEE 4mp cameras in and around my house. They cost a couple thousand dollars.

I have had one guy put in jail for breaking into cars because of good pictures of him, clothes, face & tattoo's.

I have run off several others that were poking around my vehicles before they could do anything.

I have big dogs which help also.

Quality cameras are a asset, anything under $1000 for a 4 camera unit is pretty much grainy looking but it is better than none.

 

[rwsmith]

Hide the real cameras....

...put dummies where people can see them.

 

[the ringo kid]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is security film?

Wingmaster

never mind, twas already answered

 

[Class III]

How much does it cost to retrofit a 2000 square foot house with 3m window stuff anyway???? Retail?

Impossible to quote a price without knowing the sizes of the glass in each window, the number of windows, frame construction material, customer desired level of protection, anchoring system selected (In fact, some windows can not be retrofitted with an anchoring system).


An average price for a medium grade clear security film such as 3M SCLARL400 with no anchoring system will be around $10.00 to $18.00 per material square foot. A wet glaze anchoring system (Structural Caulking Adhesive) will run around $8.00 to $12.00 per linear foot of glass edge area.


Last year I sold over 190,000 square feet of 3M Safety and Security Films. All of it was 4 sided wet glazed with a structural adhesive. All of it was for local, state and federal government buildings to bring the windows into compliance with GSA Condition 3A or higher. You can see the GSA glass protection protocol chart here on page 6. Below the chart on page six are 4 paragraphs that sum up security film very well. https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nibs.org/resource/resmgr/BEST/BEST1_033.pdf


Class III

 

[Kanewpadle]

Found a video of the security film doing it's job.

Bumbling burglars can't break through glass, flee in shame| Latest News Videos | Fox News

 

[pawngal]

My dogs will bite you well above the ankle and they can hear the grass grow.

That would be my dog too! She prefers the posterior part of the body. And somehow she can sense deer in the field across the road in the middle of the night. Thankfully I have learned the difference in her barks. Level one, animal out there somewhere.
Level 2, animal in the yard or the neighbor has company
Level 3 Vehicle or person in driveway
Level 4 Person at the door
Level 5 Haven't heard it, don't want to.

 

[Kanewpadle]

That would be my dog too! She prefers the posterior part of the body. And somehow she can sense deer in the field across the road in the middle of the night. Thankfully I have learned the difference in her barks. Level one, animal out there somewhere.
Level 2, animal in the yard or the neighbor has company
Level 3 Vehicle or person in driveway
Level 4 Person at the door
Level 5 Haven't heard it, don't want to.

Level 5: You won't hear a growl or bark. The dogs mouth is busy chomping on the bad guy.

 

[RSanch111]

Good cameras, at good angles are invaluable. That's all I end up working with now-******* B&Es up the ying yang. SRanch111, your PD's run by morons. Post the pics yourself, he'll be ratted out by someone.

Didn't want to post it anywhere and send them and/or my property to cover. The guys with the Burglary task force knew who he was and it only took a couple of days to follow him with a tracker on his car to the next burglary they did. As a bonus, it was in a more "prosecution friendly" county to the north of Wayne County and he actually did a couple years of prison time.

I agree, the department is run by morons. They have plenty of crime to investigate without wasting investigative resources on traffic enforcement.

 

[Whitwabit]

Level 5: You won't hear a growl or bark. The dogs mouth is busy chomping on the bad guy.

Level 5 for my GSD you would hear someone screaming in pain ..

 

[JSR III]

In addition to cameras, outside motion lights are a plus as most thieves prefer working in the dark. I also installed one of the Harbor Freight wireless driveway alarms. It beeps the receiver inside when someone breaks the field outside. Been having a rash of local drug users looking to get into vehicles parked outside to grab change for a quick fix.

Now any time someone comes into the yard or down the driveway, the thing beeps their arrival. On high it will even wake the most sound sleeper. Definitely worth the $20 that it costs.