Need a security camera ??

I have a storage bldg at the bottom of my property. I had it built for use with my business but since I retired, it's mostly used for storage and some mechanical work by my sons.

Over the last 10 yrs the building's been broke into 3-4 times and at least that many attempts. I've considered installing an alarm system but while the bldg has power, there is no phone service and it's location makes it unlikely that I would hear the alarm from my house.

My youngest son suggested getting a wild game camera. I know there are cameras the can be hooked up to a PC and I do have an old PC that I could use but I don't know if that's a viable option. I live on top of a big hill, this bldg is near the road down in the holler and can't be seen from the house. The law isn't much help. They come out and take a report [usually 1-2 hrs after calling] and that's the end of it. Each time I've called, the deputy was real polite, bagged some evidence and said the investigator would be in contact. Every time the investigator came out [without calling] he claimed there was no evidence and closed the case I need to either prevent theft and vandalism or get proof! Short of sleeping in the bldg with a shotgun I'm not sure how I'd can prevent the scum bags so I figure pics might be my best bet.

 

A few months ago, someone broke into my locked shed and stole all of our power tools, about $3,000 worth.
So, I've been debating the same thing. A camera won't hurt, but unless you recognize the person, the cops aren't going to go out of their way to do a search, unless a murder's been committed.
I probably wouldn't hear an alarm either, so I thought maybe getting a baby monitor would do the trick. You'd definitely hear that. Also a light motion sensor.
I would think with the light shining on them and an alarm going off, that would be enough to scare them away. They don't know if the alarm is notifying someone or not.
Anyways, my 2cents.

 

I thought about a motion light but it's doubtful it would be seen by anyone not on that section of my property...... and I'm not about to make it easier for them to see what they can steal!

That bldg is only about 300' or so from my house but there is also a 200-300' elevation change. I don't think anything wireless would transmit that far. A cell phone doesn't get reception down there either. I suspect it's the same thief [or group of thieves] since I live above a dead end road. I don't know how long an alarm would blare until it would be noticed by me or one of my neighbors.

I've been fortunate in that none of my stuff has been stolen but the kids have lost a lot. I've only had damage to the bldg to repair. Had my wife not noticed the hood up on my son's parts car, I might not have know it was broke into in this last time.

 

A camera would be good but I think you would want to work towards keeping them out.
A local alarm may not immediately warn you of an intrusion but could be distracting enough that they move on to someone else.
If you install a siren outside and inside that were hard to get at, the inside one might at least give them hearing damage!
Hide the wires and panel and they would likely give up if they did get in.
A visible flashing indicator light on the outside would warn them of a possible alarm and shock sensors on the doors would trip the alarm on the first kick.
Thieves who would do this type of thing are generally pretty lazy and not overly bright so it shouldn't take too much to make your place unattractive to them.

Even when you leave your house there are things you can do to psyche them out.
Many lights on at night with music playing very loud could make thieves think you can't hear a doorbell check.
A game camera with infrared and well camouflaged somewhere outside could tell you who is coming around.

And if you do get broken into, your insurance company might not penalize you for a claim.

 

.....or some sort of motion detector that trips a recording of one or two monster dogs. Add a few dog items near the entry ways (like a giant dog food bowl or bones) ........rotten lowlifes

 

My biggest concern with an alarm is if they realize that no one responded to it - they'd ignore it the next time. I wonder if they make a solar powered alarm system. The kids used to chip in on the electric bill but haven't in a long time

My oldest son used to have a dog chained up down there and while the dog was there, we had no thief or vandalism problems. When my dog died, I brought that dog up top - I was always the one that had to go down there to feed and water him anyway.

Unfortunately my insurance company doesn't offer theft or liability
My house is built around a mobile home that I have no title for which means most insurance companies refuse to insure it. That doesn't make sense but that's how is

The biggest problem with keeping this bldg and the cars my kids store there secure is - it is out of sight from me or the neighbors and it's toward the end of a dead end road. I have to fix the jamb for the side door. Hopefully I can figure out a way to put some angle iron in there, that should prevent them from getting in again. I installed a dead bolt last year. I put bars on the window several years ago.

I like the idea of a small flashing red light, any idea where I could get one?

 

For a small red flashing light you would need some creativity in selecting one and setting it up.

The description I gave you above was exactly what I installed when I downsized my business and set up my tools and parts in a 24' aluminum truck box.
I hadn't purchased my current property and had to park the truck in a somewhat remote area with no power.
I used two truck batteries for lights and to power the alarm and the system worked flawlessly for a year and a half.

The inside had a large exterior horn siren that would cause hearing damage for more than a few minutes of exposure and was high above the door with hidden wiring and a cage around the horn.
The alarm box was behind boxes on an upper shelf.
On the outside I had a key switch mounted on the door frame and a hole beneath it for a bright flashing LED indicator light when the system was armed.

The truck was never broken into but I had several instances in the year and a half where the alarm had gone off on the shock sensor.
Maybe a false alarm but could also have been someone tampering with the door.

I did this alarm a few years ago and had to build a little circuit to make a raw led blink but you can now get blinking 12volt dc led bulbs at many auto and electronic gadget shops.

I also use a small blinking battery powered light that can be bought at bicycle shops for the back of a bike or helmet in a vehicle I travel in, but doesn't have an alarm.
It is quite small and I place it in front of the instrument cluster of the vehicle and at night it fills the whole vehicle with a red blinking glow.

Click image:

Image courtesy of bikesdotcom

Like I said, these folks are lazy and not too bright and hopefully thieves will move to a more sure target.

 

Thanks Greg, my angle iron was too big but I was able to use a length of bed rail to beef up the latch. Now I just have to figure out what my plan is going to be and how much $ I want to spend on it.

 

Come over to my house and set off the alarm. Try staying in the house and ignoring it, the siren is painfully loud!

Sirens are installed inside the house to drive people out. Not only are they very irritating, but you cannot hear if anyone is coming. If a police car pulled up in front of my house with their siren running I do not think you would hear it over the alarm.

Position the siren where it is difficult to access, two would be better. A strobe light would help also.

Make the door easy to break in so it is an easy fix, then let the alarm drive them off. You will not stop someone determined to break in only slow them down. My locked shed door will pop open with very little effort. Which sets off the alarm

If it is some drugged up crackhead all bets are off. JIm 0311