Intruders

[buckshot721]

Well it was bound to happen somebody pushed a window out of the frame to get in my man cave. They stood on a bench we have under the window pushed it in some how then climbed in. They just walked around (foot prints on a dusty floor) and jumped back out with taking or doing anything else, that I can tell for now. Called the cops, they told me it was maybe kids looking for guns and I just took the barn gun out 2 weeks ago to clean it. So now after replacing the windows my wife wants to put in a security camera, but I'm thinking an alarm system. The size of the barn is 120 ft long by 40ft wide. and its about 200 ft from our house. I have most of the goodies like welders and tools in the front half, back half is used for storage. I am thinking with an alarm at least we have a good chance of hearing it if somebody breaks in, if we are home. And with the wireless cameras, reading about them you need an internet connection. Which I think we would be a little out of range. So I need some ideas on what types of systems you guys use. Yes we have lights on the barn and it still did not stop them.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

You don't need Internet to run your own local wireless, or wired, network. You could also install a DVR camera system in the building without hooking up to any kind of network at all.

 

[2458n]

Harbor freight has a 4 camera system that records 2400 hours on dvd. One of their driveway alerts acts like a motion detector and could sound in the house. You feel violated now wait till they haul your stuff away and the sheriff could care less.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Of course, "recorders" do nothing to make your property safer or more secure. They do, however, greatly enhance the likelihood of catching the bxstards for prosecution and recovering your belongings. Lights, alarms and firearms provide the "safer" and more "secure."

 

[MikeInEburg]

In the end, your goal should be to prevent theft, not to catch criminals after the fact. If you can trigger an alarm before perps get in, chances are that they'll take off. I like classic photoelectric beams as they're less prone to false alarms. Sometimes an innocuous blinking red LED mounted on a box is enough to keep honest people honest.

 

[square1]

They may have been taking inventory for a return visit?

 

[Ted Summey]

A monitored alarm is the best choice IMHO. I've had a break-in and lost a lot if irreplaceable stuff.

The alarm with monitoring is the best way to ensure police are on the way if you do have a break-in again. The cameras would be an excellent supplement/backup.

 

[Boiler74]

Look into DropCam. I just got one and it's pretty cool. You do need internet, but you could run a wire 200' without much trouble. It can sense noise and motion and send you an alert. You can schedule when it's working. And they do have a recording option but you don't have to do that. Will let you monitor from any smartphone. All you have to do is plug it in. No computer or hard wire needed. And a UPS will keep it running when power is cut if you want that.

I also have a monitored alarm system.

 

[weldingisfun]

Take a look at this outfit, RanchCams: Barn Cameras, Horse Trailer Cameras, Wired/Wireless. We use it in the barn during kidding season. Our house is about 500 feet from the barn. It is wireless.

 

[timster2]

The alarm with monitoring is the best way to ensure police are on the way if you do have a break-in again.

At best this is wishful thinking, responding to a burglar alarm is very low on the police priority list. Your best bet is to have a good set of pictures to hand over to the responding officer so he can have a head start in investigating and recovering your stuff. Pictures can be video from a security system or stills from game cameras placed on the most likely access and egress routes. A picture of a vehicle with license plates will go a long way in finding the perpetrators.

Speaking from experience the guy will be back. My garage was robbed and the guy came back the next day to finish what he started, he must have seen stuff he liked and came back for more. The only thing that stopped him were new stronger locks and the garage door was chained and screwed shut. He was finally caught but my tools were long gone. This was several years ago before cheap video systems and game cameras.