Front Porch Security Options

[N80]

I live on a quiet old street downtown in a small city in South Carolina. For the type of location crime has not been bad here even though sketchy areas are close by. But, yesterday I came home to find packages missing from my porch that were reported as delivered by FedEx. For a number of reasons I do not think they were stolen. For one, there was an Amazon package delivered at the same time that was not missing. Trying to deal with FedEx right now....not a good experience so far...but I think it is a FedEx glitch. Hopefully. Plus we've never had a package stolen off the porch. But, my wife thinks we need some sort of security out there and I agree.

I have two possibly impossible criteria. #1. I do not want it to be web, cell, wifi or internet based. In other words, I'm looking for a closed system. I feel like I give away too much personal info as is. #2. I do not want to pay a monthly service fee of any sort.

So the question is, is it possible to easily set up a porch security camera on my own without it being web based or paying a monthly fee. I'm sure there are ways to do anything but I would want it to be fairly inexpensive and simple enough to DIY.

Thanks for any input.

 

[AWSubie]

This is the type of system I use. Very easy to setup and economical. Any old computer display or small flat tv can be connected to it.

Search Amazon for various brands and numbers of cameras desired . The resolution of the cameras is not tremendous but good enough to monitor porch activity.

When Fedex insists that they have delivered an item It’s nice to be able to tell that u have security cameras and that no one has come to your house. They change their frame of mind very quickly.

 

[5030]

We just have a cheap $9.95 Harbor Freight wireless proximity alarm with the speaker end in the house on the ledge by the sink. Works flawlessly and the batteries in both the transmitter and the receiver last at least a year. Pup has gotten tuned into it as well. When it alarms (goes off), he goes off as well.

I believe you have an issue with Fed-Ex. We have had that happen more than once, tracking shows delivered but it wasn't and came the next day instead. Fed-Ex has been getting a little schlock about deliveries lately it seems,

 

[Rockbadchild]

yes for sure I bought a set online it was 8 camera with a receiver hard wires, we had it plug in on a TV. I believe we had the option to go see it live online but we never made the account... I can't remember the cost but it was reasonable and it payed for itself since we got stolen once and was able to identified the individuals and got our stuff back ...

 

[ljjhouser]

Cameras may be helpful to know when something has arrived or is missing. But it is a rare event that "scares anyone off" or "catches the person." I have cameras on both houses, 15 on one and 8 on the other, plus Honeywell Alarm Ademco alarm system on both.

To make the camera give you the information you would need to be a mega pixel camera (MP) for very high resolution. That means is POE - probably power over ethernet and connected to a nvr (recording device). Check Securitycameraking.com

I DO NOT recommend this as a solution. The object is to prevent the loss of packages. A camera will not do this. The neighbor across the street had a small motor bike stolen from his drive across the street. He asked me if I could see it. There was just enough to see the end of his drive. Saw the person take it, but NO facial identification - too far away. The simplest may be the Ring device. But it is internet. Most all cameras are.

Remote access means internet connected. Motion alert means you will get notice when the wind blows.

My best answer - have your packages sent to a pickup place, such as Walgreens - etc. A little trouble, but not near as much as the frustration of trying to find a package. Best wishes. Sorry you package is lost and hope you find it.

 

[workinonit]

I like my 8 camera ring setup. It does just what you are looking to do. But it is wifi.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Cameras may be helpful to know when something has arrived or is missing. But it is a rare event that "scares anyone off" or "catches the person." I have cameras on both houses, 15 on one and 8 on the other, plus Honeywell Alarm Ademco alarm system on both.

To make the camera give you the information you would need to be a mega pixel camera (MP) for very high resolution. That means is POE - probably power over ethernet and connected to a nvr (recording device). Check Securitycameraking.com

I DO NOT recommend this as a solution. The object is to prevent the loss of packages. A camera will not do this. The neighbor across the street had a small motor bike stolen from his drive across the street. He asked me if I could see it. There was just enough to see the end of his drive. Saw the person take it, but NO facial identification - too far away. The simplest may be the Ring device. But it is internet. Most all cameras are.

Remote access means internet connected. Motion alert means you will get notice when the wind blows.

My best answer - have your packages sent to a pickup place, such as Walgreens - etc. A little trouble, but not near as much as the frustration of trying to find a package. Best wishes. Sorry you package is lost and hope you find it.

I agree it has its limitation and if the intruder knows you have cameras and wear a face mask you are out of luck ... we got lucky to be able to identified it but it do give you more information with then without.

 

[N80]

All good points guys. But yes, it would be nice to be able to tell FedEx that they never delivered it or that I have proof that it was stolen. Funny thing is that this package was 70 pounds of brake rotors and pads. If they were stolen the thief is going to be unhappy with his labors.

 

[ljjhouser]

I wish there was a good answer to this porch theft business. It needs to be stopped. I do not feel sorry for people who do this.

 

[ljjhouser]

Will that thing connect to the internet so you can check it?? Ha LoL

 

[N80]

I wish there was a good answer to this porch theft business. It needs to be stopped. I do not feel sorry for people who do this.

If you just want to feel better about it then check out the videos by the guy who rigs the packages with cameras, tracking devices, glitter bombs and fart spray. It is very gratifying to watch.

In my case we haven't confirmed that that is the issue. Sadly, we have had an increase in homeless people here. Almost entirely drug addicts and/or mentally ill. It has always been a problem, as in most cities, but here it was a limited problem. There was a fairly static and small population of homeless that could be managed by the various shelters and such. Before the pandemic we housed people in our church.

The police have told our neighbors that the very large city to the north of us has quietly cracked down on the homeless there and have suggested that that city's police have been transporting them here. I can't imagine that the latter part is true. The police have also said that our street is on the route between a place where the homeless gather at night and a methadone clinic downtown. They blame all this on the increasing crime in the general area.

Be that as it may, we have not actually experienced an increase in crime on the street. Nor do we see people who look homeless or addicted walking down it, day or night.

 

[JDZ735M]

FEDEX was supposed to deliver a package to my brother. They delivered it three blocks away on a different street. They claimed that the package was signed for. When he got the notice of delivery he checked and found nothing. They sent him a picture and he was able to recognize the location.

When he went to the location - a commercial business office, they had his package on their counter. He asked who signed for it, and they said "nobody". It was just left by FEDEX on their counter while nobody was at the counter.

FEDEX driver just made up a name and signed for the package he delivered to the incorrect address.

This is not unusual for FEDEX.

 

[PILOON]

A local problem is UPS tracking shows delivered but not to where?
During Xmas they were dropping shipments to a local pickup site but never mentioned where it was much less a note at your door to indicate where that was.
Fact was they never came anywhere near your house.
The clerk at the pickup signed hence it showed delivered!

 

[Doughknob]

 

[N80]

A local problem is UPS tracking shows delivered but not to where?
During Xmas they were dropping shipments to a local pickup site but never mentioned where it was much less a note at your door to indicate where that was.
Fact was they never came anywhere near your house.
The clerk at the pickup signed hence it showed delivered!

You would think that with all the tech they have that when they scan the package at the point of delivery that GPS would confirm or at least record the location of the drop. I fear that with the labor "shortage" some of these delivery companies, like many other enterprises, are not getting the most stellar hires in the world.

I saw a joke that said: "Due to the labor shortage, long haired freaky people may apply."

 

[PILOON]

You would think that with all the tech they have that when they scan the package at the point of delivery that GPS would confirm or at least record the location of the drop. I fear that with the labor "shortage" some of these delivery companies, like many other enterprises, are not getting the most stellar hires in the world.

I saw a joke that said: "Due to the labor shortage, long haired freaky people may apply."

Also with the Xmas rush they hired many temps also in my area they use local subs, even the odd taxi driver for the more remote areas.

 

[ericm979]

Here, all of the delivery services will sometimes report stuff delivered that wasn't. It usually shows up a day or two later. FedEx is particularly bad but all of them except USPS do it.

I think the drivers are under too much pressure to perform and either can't make it out here or don't want to. They mark it "delivered" so they don't get dinged by the algorithm and then it comes back to the distribution center to go on another truck the next day.

 

[cjoffutt]

You would think that with all the tech they have that when they scan the package at the point of delivery that GPS would confirm or at least record the location of the drop.

Hell, for our house, the driver could be 24 miles away and Apple Maps would report it as correct. Apple Maps has NEVER taken people to our house upon entry of our address. It ALWAYS takes them 24 miles South East of where we actually live. Google Maps however has been correct even before the address was given out by the Post Office when I applied for all the building permits. Been this way for the 12 years that we've lived there.

 

[workinonit]

The police have told our neighbors that the very large city to the north of us has quietly cracked down on the homeless there and have suggested that that city's police have been transporting them here.

You grabbed my attention with this line. I can't imagine where that would be in SC.

Yea, the powers that be are all over the Covid issue but I'm telling you the legal and illegal drug issue is absolutely ruining this country. And apparently the best way to handle it is to ignore it. I don't think most people have a clue how many people are affected by these compounds and the number that die from overdoses every day.

 

[MossRoad]

I live on a quiet old street downtown in a small city in South Carolina. For the type of location crime has not been bad here even though sketchy areas are close by. But, yesterday I came home to find packages missing from my porch that were reported as delivered by FedEx. For a number of reasons I do not think they were stolen. For one, there was an Amazon package delivered at the same time that was not missing. Trying to deal with FedEx right now....not a good experience so far...but I think it is a FedEx glitch. Hopefully. Plus we've never had a package stolen off the porch. But, my wife thinks we need some sort of security out there and I agree.

I have two possibly impossible criteria. #1. I do not want it to be web, cell, wifi or internet based. In other words, I'm looking for a closed system. I feel like I give away too much personal info as is. #2. I do not want to pay a monthly service fee of any sort.

So the question is, is it possible to easily set up a porch security camera on my own without it being web based or paying a monthly fee. I'm sure there are ways to do anything but I would want it to be fairly inexpensive and simple enough to DIY.

Thanks for any input.

If all you want is simple recording of comings and goings on your front porch to confirm/deny someone was there at a given time, put a trail/game camera there. Simple, cheap.