Security Measures?

[bainbrig]

Home CCTV (on outside walls). How much does this say to The Burglar "Something in there worth nicking", and how much "I'll go down the road instead"?

A few flats locally have cameras etc., most probably don't. It's suburban NW London, so full of scallywags.

Any guesses?

BB

[bhg481]

You could allply the same argument to burglar alarms. Some insurance companies require you to have one fitted if your contents value exceeds a certain amount, which implies that they think it is a deterrent. I get no discount at all for having CCTV cameras fitted, which implies they don't have any effect on the robbery likelyhood.

[alavahalf]

The Police used to get me to fit cameras for elderly victims of crime. Often pensioners were being targeted by the local youths. The cameras were fitted as a deterent. From experience I found that they done the complete opposite and the youths would just tighten their hoodies, cover their faces and return to aggravate their victims even more, just because they now had a camera to perform in front of. Neighbours of victims would often approach me as I installed them, threatening me if the camera pointed towards their house. All the cameras I fitted were dummies, but looked like the real thing.
To a potential burglar the camera means cover up, it does little to deter them. If they are prepared to force an entry, you will do little to stop them. You would be better off with a burglar alarm.

[ummmm]

Not everything in a house has monetary value but so much has sentimental value.

You can also set off an intruder alarm from the inside if you think someone is trying to get in. It's pretty loud as well.

[tamborine]

Mine come with an app (Swann) on cell phone where I can view my cctv globally. As 2 cameras face street at work & home, cops often call in to view any mishaps.

[bainbrig]

Yes, points taken. Very difficult - but if we are going down this road, we'll have to go the whole hog, fully covered with cameras, plus alarms.

But even alarms get ignored, as a nifty burglar can be in and out before the neighbours start wondering whether it's yet another false alarm.

Thanks for the replies.

BB

[hc4361]

I've got cameras and I've never been burgled. The cameras have stopped my car being stolen off the drive twice, though - motion sets off a loud bugle sound in the house.

[jennyjoan]

BB - my sister's neighbour has all kinds of CCTV outside his house - the houses are in a row so this guy has access to all that is going on right across perhaps 3 houses.

Sister finds this very disconcerting and feels invasion to her privacy and I would too.

[bainbrig]

Jennyjoan, could you tell us why? (Sister finds this [neighbour’s cameras] very disconcerting and feels invasion to her privacy and I would too.)

We’ve heard similar complaints from neighbours, but our opinion is that as we’re doing nothing wrong, we don’t mind who watches!

BillB

[Peter Pedant]

you really need telemetry innit - sending the signal to a place outside the house so even if they break in, and steal the camera,
there is still a record

I dont have any inside (!) and I live at 13 Railway cuttings east cheam.... on the grounds that if they get inside, you have rather lost the game....

a neighbour has either six or eight
and we kinda like taking our clothers off and waggling our bottoms on camera like in the old advert - Fry's Turkish Delight - full of eastern promise
yes I live in the past ....

[Peter Pedant]

// Sister finds this very disconcerting and feels invasion to her privacy and I would too.//

tell her to trawl the ICO site
and then ring them

I think it is now lawful - ( previously wasnt, and they had thousands and thousands of complaints, he can see my ear, he can see my foot...). I have curbed any distaste after Salisbury and Novichok ( I used to live on the Very Road ( wilton ) where the incident took place, er in 1968 )

[Tilly2]

We had cameras installed at the end of last year as there had been a spate of burglaries in the vicinity. We have four:- back garden, patio, garage and driveway.

I spend ages, each day, watching the night time activities of the foxes and hedgehogs in the garden. We do put food out for them and they come and help themselves. It was lovely to see a vixen brining her cub with her to eat the chicken bones. :-)

[webbo3]

Tilly, don't give them cooked chicken bones as they can splinter and choke the foxes.

[bainbrig]

PP Yes, most these days transmit by wifi to the 'cloud', so the recordings are up/out there somewhere.

It is of course a bit like having decent locks. You will (hopefully) never know if they've been worth it!

BB

[Baldric]

Webbo @ 1622, the Dobie B.i.t.c.h we lost in 2015, nicked a complete cooked and stripped chicken carcass that my wife had left right at the back of the worktop thinking she would never get it, she did!
Watched her very carefully for a few days afterwards, Kim not Mrs B.

[ToraToraTora]

I have cameras all round, never been burgled and I like to keep it that way. I don't really have anything out of the ordinary to protect but I consider burglary a disgusting crime and I don't want low life thieving scum in my house.

[Tilly2]

Thanks, Webbo. I did wonder about that. I don't give them to Tilly so I should know better really.
I'll buy some chicken wings and put those out instead. Are lamb bones and pork chop bones ok?
We also put cat food out, they seem to like that and the cats don't come anywhere near.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Better to have that not to - might deter the spotty chancer.

[Baldric]

I must remember that,^^ if I see a Spotty Character I will keep an eye on him as he's a Burglar.

[bainbrig]

According to Which?, they did a survey of ex(!) burglars and found they were more bothered by alarms than cameras, and a bit less bothered about dogs or the place being occupied.