Electrify it:D Fry the bastards!!!

very interested in how the Costco setup works out, I have been looking at that too.

John,

The problem with have hidden ones is you said you also want night which requires infrared LED's, or you could have an infrared light (insight) and a camera out of site. You can get some very durable enclosures that would be in plain view as well. I'll try to find my vendor info and post. There are a lot of good quality DVR's that can record for quite a while.

I have a story on Byron´s theme conserning my brother. He lives out back in the middle of nowhere on a large rural estate. He is big on motorcykles. Particularly HD´s. Has quite a collection in one of the barns.

Now, a couple of years ago he had repeated attempts to brake in that particular barn. Finally he got fed up with fitting heavier steel bars, doors and locks. He resolutely charged the door with electricity. Not lethal voltage but very painful. Thinking strategically, he plugged it to a timer. They use the facilities during the days so he had the timer started at late evening and cut it in the morning.

For over six months he was successful. No more attemts on his property. He was sporting a rather smug grin whenever the subject came up, feeling pretty darn proud of himself.

Well, late one friday night, having some friends over for dinner and drinks he ran out of beer. Realizing that and remembering having stashed away a few boxes in said barn, he happily went out to fetch refills..

Moral of the story, don't get buzzed & and open a charged door:D

I have a couple made by Swain - they're decent enough - short range wireless although you have to run a cable to power them (either that or change 9V batteries every few hours). They work pretty well, infrared LEDs. I have 'em in my garage right now. I got the setup at Frys - they're kind of "made in China" crap overlooking obvious features that'd be nice (i.e. able to rotate the image 90 degrees for sideways mounting, a more standardized power supply, etc.) However, these are more inconveniences than inhibitions to their usefulness. If anyone was to ever break into my garage, I'd absolutely, positively have them IDd. I run the signal from the capture box to a video capture card on my PC. Very easy to do.

Biggest complaint is the relatively short range of the cameras wireless - it's good for maybe 50', less with intervening walls. There are an assortment of ones with coax cables though, so maybe you want to go that route.

Why the F would anyone want a fake camera? That's like trying to defend yourself with an unloaded gun.

The wireless ones have limited range and the image degrades if the signal passes through walls. I'd go with wired unless it's just a short term setup.

This system just came on sale at Costco.com yesterday. A 250 GB motion sensing triggered digital video recording system with four weatherproof color cameras with infrared LEDs. Cost: $299.99 shipped, sale ends Dec 10. Also comes with Costco's great unlimited return policy if you're not happy for any reason..

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11238977&cm_mmc=BCEmail_248_US-_-Electronics-_-61-_-QSeeMotionDVR_BCEmail_248_US

:confused:

I install these on a regular basis. 4 camera inputs, 24hr. continous recording with 7 ~ 14 days worth of archives (depending on desired video quality & number of cameras), with TCP/IP for web-viewing, for about $800.00 w/320 gb hard-drive. With only 1 camera attached, you can probably record/store 30 days of continous full-motion video:

http://www.spyingeyeinc.com/pdf_files/digital%20recorders/EDSR400H.pdf

Less expensive (off-brand) models are available for consumers on a budget (see: Costco, WalMart, Fry's, etc.). These are considered "disposable" and will do the job for the short-term.

Did someone say "tapes"? I have a stack of VHS (tape) Timelapse VCR's collecting dust in my warehouse. No-one uses tapes anymore, except perhaps grandpa wanting to keep an eye on his Model T.

F ya then, I'll take back my offer to supply the cams! Someone offers to do something for me, momma taught me to say Thank-you!

I know quite a few guys that had their vehicles/stuff stolen under surveillance; what a joke! One of my uncles watched the thieves load up his truck onto a trailer right under a huge bright light..... him and the cops watched the video and agreed.... "yup thats my truck they stole" Video didnt provide any help whatsoever.

If you're there at night, then you can rig motion sensors to set off an alarm in the shop - then go out a different door with a baseball bat. When the cops come, you can explain to them that the taggers became violent and attacked you when you asked them what they were doing.

re motion sensor on a cam setup - you need to not just turn on the cam, you need to start recording then. This was hard with tape systems years ago due to lag. It should not be too hard with a disk based system that spins all the time or that has a solid state chip based buffer. I wish I knew what was actually out there tho...

If anybody finds a particular setup that works well, please post. I'd like to spy on the nasty old lady next door - she keeps clipping my bamboo.

A baseball bat? LOL. May as well stay inside. When you see news stories regularly about 12, 13, 14 y/o kids shooting others, confronting these little scumbags with a baseball bat ain't a good idea.

Digital video recorders do have a buffer/motion setting. The unit records continously, but in "motion control" setting, it doesn't save to disk until there is a change in the picture. You can adjust the settings for different situations, so you do not miss anything. With this feature activated, you can extend recording time significantly.

You need one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wildview-wildlife-camera-critter-cam-game-scouting-deer_W0QQitemZ190176022745QQihZ009QQcategoryZ52505 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Attach it to a post in your yard facing the problem area. Whenever something moves within its range, it will snap/flash a picture. That ought to get the old badillac's attention.

You want to ID the perps and keep the evidence to give to LE, but the second that they see a camera they will paint or bash the puppy, ending the video evidence trail and costing you more money.

Hide it and put it where they cannot get to or see it. They will shoot it out if they cannot get to it once they figure out that they are being filmed.

I had a similar problem. I bought a Swann system from Fry's. Wire is cheaper than wireless. I have a PC DVR-4-Net 4 camera PCI card installed in a computer. I am using (2) outdoor color cameras mounted outside. Each camera has 40 ft of cable which is adequate for me. You can buy extensions. You can set the time or create a schedule to activate this but it is much easier to let the thing run. I have had no problems with this. Cost: about $500.

I have the ability to view and print frames and create jpegs. I also worked with the Police who were very supportive.

After installing this, I finally got piece of mind.

The spy shops sell extra large VHS tapes. In slow mode you get something like 12 hours continuous.

But my guess is that local LE will be too busy to help you, even if you collect video evidence.

So, teflon coat, instal a motion detector to turn on an overhead sprinkler, or go to the western shop and get some electric fence goodies.

Or just play Barry Manilow over an outdoor speaker system.

If the camera isn't viable, how about semi-gloss white the whole thing?
A roller/pan will stay fresh for about a week in the fridge when wrapped up with a single sheet of aluminum foil. Spritz with water and roll in pan to refresh. If it's 1-2 painters, they might get the drift and give up.

If you want to confront the perps, they've got motion detector outdoor lights(remove lights) that sends a wireless signal to an alarm box inside in the house.
Paintball gun using the oil-based markers from the roof. Taste of their own medicine:)

Is the area well lit? They say a motion activated spotlight deters these losers....shoot, hook a sodium vapor light up to the sensor and let them paint in broad daylight conditions. Plus it'll provide more light for a clear image if you go the surveillance camera route.

Not far from you, JW, We've been seeing lot's of petty theft, tagging, and bum crap.

The cameras need lot's of light, infrared or otherwise.

The problem with cameras is once you've been tagged (or even theft) you spend a bunch of time reviewing the playback, show it to the cops, and then nothing. (no comment on whether anyone has provided those a-holes paypack)

So, as I see it, the best solution is doing what ever you can to not be hit. As others have said, lights. ..That teflon coating sounds like a good idea too.

I have heard that cameras which take good-resolution pictures in low light are spendy and not small. Plus, once you have some video footage, then whaddya do? Call the cops, who will yawn at the images? It seems like the live hidden camera project idea means you plan to devote some time and frustration without a real good chance of success. I would think the dummy camera, plus motion sensor lights, plus door coating that makes cleanup easy, might eliminate the problem. Parking skis and bikes and stuff is a matter of making someone else's stuff more attractive than yours. Make them find another graffiti victim.