Thread: Wireless Cameras

Originally Posted by STF

I think one of the weakest spots in home security may be taxi drivers.

They are the one total stranger that knows you are away, sees your suitcases and can be chatty enough to find out where your going, who's left at home and how long you're going for.

No offense to taxi drivers, I'm not suggesting they're dishonest in any way, just pointing out a possible security weak point.

To me the weakest in home security is the owner. You'd be surprised how many people don't lock doors, leave windows wide open and leave spare keys under the front door mat. The amount of idiots that display their lives on Facebook and the like is unbelievable. I've had to let friends know that when they are boasting that they are going on holiday for two weeks or taking pictures of the restaurant they are in they are highlighting the fact that thier house is empty.

Ya know...I've said I wasn't going to comment on this because I come here to talk about something else besides what I do all day. I have left all the locksmith forums for that reason. 30 years on call makes you a little weary of it. Still, it is what I know so I guess it is unfair not to give the meager offerings of what I have learned to those I have come to know and some of whom I like.

I see a lot of places and people in my business and I observe a lot about their habits and environments. I own a 3 generation locksmith business and literally grew up in the business. Does that make me an expert? That is not for me to say. That is for my customers to say. What I will say is that I have done much and seen more. These are the things I find pertinent.

The people who are publicly flashy are usually not the ones with real wealth. Though they may live well and plush lives the (wise) ones who really have wealth keep it to themselves.

It is easier to hide your wealth than to protect opulence.

Unless you are one who WANTS to go to war like some of the mob bosses the best practice is to not advertise.

The more fences and guards and safes you have the more people wonder what you have to protect.

No place or situation is impenetrable or impervious to those who think it is easier or better to take what doesn't belong to them.

Sadly...and this is the one that is the most painful for people and jading to a security professional...no one is trustworthy, not even your closest friend. I have a customer who called me out late one night to change locks and safes at his businesses and home. He confided in me (as people often do) that someone was stealing from him. He had a new employee that was a constant problem and had been from the start. He was sure it was this employee and he wanted to prosecute so he set the employee up. To his shock it was a friend who had been his second since the start, had watched his home and children and had become like a member of his family. As it all unfolded he realized that she had likely been stealing from him since the very beginning but had become bold, otherwise she might have gone on to do it for much longer since she was able to cover her tracks. This is only one story like this I have heard and there are many others, volumes of them certainly that I never heard. It will break your heart if you let it.

People turn to me like I have a magic pill or the fountain of youth that will make all their problems go away. Then when they act in a manner that causes them to be vulnerable they want to blame me for their lack of vigilance or that there are bad people in the world.

Unfortunately, most people who get stolen from are victimized by someone they know. Those who are robbed by professional thieves fall into complacency or laziness and fit a pattern. Often they overlook obvious things which make them targets like others have already posted.

People put up security measures thinking it will deter criminals. What it actually does very often is attract them. "Hey, look at the big fence and all the cameras. They must have a lot of killer stuff." Couple that with silly, careless things like leaving porch lights on in the middle of the day among other signs of vacancy and you may as well put up a sign saying, "ROB ME. I'M AWAY FOR THIS LONG, OR AT THIS TIME ."

Want to not get robbed? Keep a big dog, carry a big gun, lock all your doors and windows, first making sure that they all work properly. But there's one other very key thing to do, and this is very important. Don't be stupid or complacent. Don't make it too easy for those who would make you a victim and for God's sake don't advertise your habits or that you have things worth stealing...this is a subject all it's own but, as an example, don't put the box for your new 1000 inch TV or kick ass high end entertainment system on the curb for everyone to see. If you or your family take medications like opiates or amphetamines don't go tell everyone...hell ANYONE about it...and lastly, and mostly disappointingly, don't trust anyone too much. Be boss of your own life and don't expect someone like me to fix you incompetence.

Remember that locks , alarms, cameras...all these by themselves are only one step toward protecting yourself, your belongings and your family

So true Paul!

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Ya know...I've said I wasn't going to comment on this because I come here to talk about something else besides what I do all day. I have left all the locksmith forums for that reason. 30 years on call makes you a little weary of it. Still, it is what I know so I guess it is unfair not to give the meager offerings of what I have learned to those I have come to know and some of whom I like.

I see a lot of places and people in my business and I observe a lot about their habits and environments. I own a 3 generation locksmith business and literally grew up in the business. Does that make me an expert? That is not for me to say. That is for my customers to say. What I will say is that I have done much and seen more. These are the things I find pertinent.

The people who are publicly flashy are usually not the ones with real wealth. Though they may live well and plush lives the (wise) ones who really have wealth keep it to themselves.

It is easier to hide your wealth than to protect opulence.

Unless you are one who WANTS to go to war like some of the mob bosses the best practice is to not advertise.

The more fences and guards and safes you have the more people wonder what you have to protect.

No place or situation is impenetrable or impervious to those who think it is easier or better to take what doesn't belong to them.

Sadly...and this is the one that is the most painful for people and jading to a security professional...no one is trustworthy, not even your closest friend. I have a customer who called me out late one night to change locks and safes at his businesses and home. He confided in me (as people often do) that someone was stealing from him. He had a new employee that was a constant problem and had been from the start. He was sure it was this employee and he wanted to prosecute so he set the employee up. To his shock it was a friend who had been his second since the start, had watched his home and children and had become like a member of his family. As it all unfolded he realized that she had likely been stealing from him since the very beginning but had become bold, otherwise she might have gone on to do it for much longer since she was able to cover her tracks. This is only one story like this I have heard and there are many others, volumes of them certainly that I never heard. It will break your heart if you let it.

People turn to me like I have a magic pill or the fountain of youth that will make all their problems go away. Then when they act in a manner that causes them to be vulnerable they want to blame me for their lack of vigilance or that there are bad people in the world.

Unfortunately, most people who get stolen from are victimized by someone they know. Those who are robbed by professional thieves fall into complacency or laziness and fit a pattern. Often they overlook obvious things which make them targets like others have already posted.

People put up security measures thinking it will deter criminals. What it actually does very often is attract them. "Hey, look at the big fence and all the cameras. They must have a lot of killer stuff." Couple that with silly, careless things like leaving porch lights on in the middle of the day among other signs of vacancy and you may as well put up a sign saying, "ROB ME. I'M AWAY FOR THIS LONG, OR AT THIS TIME ."

Want to not get robbed? Keep a big dog, carry a big gun, lock all your doors and windows, first making sure that they all work properly. But there's one other very key thing to do, and this is very important. Don't be stupid or complacent. Don't make it too easy for those who would make you a victim and for God's sake don't advertise your habits or that you have things worth stealing...this is a subject all it's own but, as an example, don't put the box for your new 1000 inch TV or kick ass high end entertainment system on the curb for everyone to see. If you or your family take medications like opiates or amphetamines don't go tell everyone...hell ANYONE about it...and lastly, and mostly disappointingly, don't trust anyone too much. Be boss of your own life and don't expect someone like me to fix you incompetence.

Remember that locks , alarms, cameras...all these by themselves are only one step toward protecting yourself, your belongings and your family

Wow! For not wanting to say anything, you sure said a lot! Good Stuff!

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Wow! For not wanting to say anything, you sure said a lot! Good Stuff!

And he did it all in ONE POST instead of 5-6 one after the other.

Always trying to sweet talk me Roy.

Really liking the system so far

Front and Back porches are all looped in, they feed to my phone and Shan's

Indoor Camera is on the way, we got the one with Tilt and Pan going to see what Remi is up to when we are gone hehehe

Honestly was pretty easy to get it all set up... we have two more game cameras to catch pics coming and going on the road

What system did you get mountain man? Oh and don’t tell where the bear traps are!

Just like auto insurance or a daily carry I hope you don't ever need them Glen, but if you do I hope they do what you need them to do. It's a plus that you can get footage on your phone. Glad you got them set up easily.

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Thanks PaulFlus. Yours is very good advice.

My personal experience ....
My garage was broken into multiple times. Once they kicked in the entire door that I had deck screwed a 2x4 across on the inside!
I solved the problem by putting some very big hasps and large padlocks on the doors. It seems they were not interested in working that hard.

After my home was burglarized 2 years ago I installed 2 motion sensor lights on the front and back door.
Plus I now have a home security system that is professionally monitored and connected to my cellphone. The siren on this is so loud it will drive you out of the house.
The system has multiple cameras, motion sensors, breaking glass sensors and more toys.
But... some perspective is called for. This was the first time in 20 years of living here that this happened .... and it was an inside job.
The professional monitoring costs me $15 per month and helps me feel a bit better when I am out of town.
Oh ya, the cameras have speakers on them so I can talk to the intruders.