Trail cams for security

[jffields1969]

I started off with a few trail cams. But due to their limitations I quickly converted everything to PoE (Power over Ethernet) connected cameras with full time recording. Local video storage with NVRs with remote backup. Connections are either hardwired or via point-to-point wireless connection + remote power. This is for a large property. The new AI enabled cameras are getting better. Many now support facial recognition, day+night license plate reading, differentiating between different kinds of animals, etc. When combined with the ability set up automatic alerts for very specific situations, the number of false alarms can be minimized. I expect that very soon we may be able to upgrade this system further with a squadron of autonomous drones equipped with night vision/thermal imaging providing 24/7 automated aerial surveillance. This should be cheaper, easier to much to deploy and maintain, and more flexible when compared to the current fixed cameras whether they are wired or not - especially for large rural properties. Very sad that these systems are now considered necessities when operating a farm.

[knieft]

I started off with a few trail cams. But due to their limitations I quickly converted everything to PoE (Power over Ethernet) connected cameras with full time recording. Local video storage with NVRs with remote backup. Connections are either hardwired or via point-to-point wireless connection + remote power. This is for a large property.

Wow. Thanks for your experienced reply. So these remotely powered point-to-point wireless use PoE as well in the "stations" around your property? Are these stations hidden somehow?

How does the point-to point wireless work?

Full time recording? Sounds like you have gone top end all the way. Have you had to look at the recordings because of an incident? IOW, does it work?

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Thanks terracore for the slick summary. Since we have Apple One including 3tb of storage, I am choosing old gen Eufy HomeKit compatible fixed cameras (2c for outdoors and c102 for indoors, though pointing out) to avoid extra subscription storage fees. These will be around the house and can be seen using the Eufy app or HomeKit (limit four cams per HomeBase 2 units, but those are on eBay for $30).

A half dozen solar trail cams with 128gb SD cards have their own little screens which I wouldn't expect to even look at until there is another theft. And just one other app connected trail cam near enough to the driveway/entrance to stop and connect easily from the car. All motion activated.

I expect they will all eventually be stolen just for the irony.

Cheers,
Kirt

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

A little more info if you ever catch a thief on camera.
I was robbed last summer. My cameras caught the thief’s face, his truck loaded with my things.
The prosecutor’s office just called me.  They finally served the guy, brought him into court, he pleaded not guilty.  I was told it’s not a strong case because none of the camera views show him in the act of stealing my items.  The prosecutor would find it difficult to prove this guy was the actual thief without video of him carrying items and placing them in his truck.

You might want to take that into account when you choose the sites for your cameras.  For instance, a thief’s vehicle loaded with your fruit, leaving your property is not as strong evidence as the thief putting fruit into his truck.  The thief at my house arrived with some bags already in the back of his truck bed, then put everything he took from me in garbage bags.  I can’t testify anything in the truck was mine because it was covered.  With fruit they could easily throw a tarp over everything and claim it was just some stuff, protected from the wind that they were driving around with.

[Durian Fiend]

A little more info if you ever catch a thief on camera.
I was robbed last summer. My cameras caught the thief’s face, his truck loaded with my things.
The prosecutor’s office just called me.  They finally served the guy, brought him into court, he pleaded not guilty.  I was told it’s not a strong case because none of the camera views show him in the act of stealing my items.  The prosecutor would find it difficult to prove this guy was the actual thief without video of him carrying items and placing them in his truck.

You might want to take that into account when you choose the sites for your cameras.  For instance, a thief’s vehicle loaded with your fruit, leaving your property is not as strong evidence as the thief putting fruit into his truck.  The thief at my house arrived with some bags already in the back of his truck bed, then put everything he took from me in garbage bags.  I can’t testify anything in the truck was mine because it was covered.  With fruit they could easily throw a tarp over everything and claim it was just some stuff, protected from the wind that they were driving around with.

That's tough.   If you possibly had serial numbers or another way to ID the items, perhaps that would nail the dirty bastard.  

Your experience really illustrates how difficult it is to successfully apprehend a Puna thief.   With fruit in an orchard, obviously an even more difficult task.   That's why I've been of the opinion that cameras are more trouble than they're worth.

[Rob Tucker]

Try installing Airtags in your more valuable stuff. The police can track the goods. Airtags are cheap.

[TomK]

Great advice, as long as you have an iPhone.

[randomq]

Who's to say you didn't give them permission to take those items? That's what the police said to a friend when his trailcam showed the thieve's face as they came out of his house with his stuff in arm.

Our prosecutors and judges here suck. The longer we let them fester, the more people will abandon the justice system and turn to "strong man" leaders to solve their problems.

[leilanidude]

Who's to say you didn't give them permission to take those items? That's what the police said to a friend when his trailcam showed the thieve's face as they came out of his house with his stuff in arm.
------------
Assuming that the thief was a relative of the officer...

[knieft]

Sheesh, the stories about such revealing cam footage coming to no end with the police is _really_ depressing?

Isn’t it at least proof of breaking and entering, or trespassing? Something?

Sounds like the cams will be futile, but so many things are.

Cheers,
Kirt

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Sounds like the cams will be futile,

I think they’re effective as a deterrent to the less desperate, less persistent thieves. I now have signs, motion lights over the signs, and cameras. Chains across the driveway. But get bigger links than you think is necessary, mine have crimps from a bolt cutters someone used, unsuccessfully. Since I went the extra mile I haven’t had anyone enter the yard, not sure if it’s the hardware, or if the thieves just moved on to uncharted territory.