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Vandalism returned

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  • Member since
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  • From: Michigan City, In.
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Vandalism returned
Posted by spikejones52002 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 8:59 PM

My neighbor back destroying my out door layout. I seen him ram a branch into a track switch. I called the Sheriff, They informed me that he was visiting a friend.  The sheriff said I could file a complaint. With out proof, I would be sued for false arrest.  He has a lot of close friends in political positions.  I am an out of towner.

Last year you people helped me find security camers, Problem they only worked with a VCR. Problem VCR tapes are only 8 hours. I also attempted to find new VCRs. None to be had. I went to Rehab stores and found 4. Three junk and the forth no remote. A universal remote did not work. The camera security system needed to learn from the remote.

DVD recorders are 6 hours max.

Does anyone have information on surveillance Computers (within reasonable price). I need something with a large hard drive better external HD and can take time shots (eg one shot a second) and record several cameras. Need something that I do not have to review everyday or part of.

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:46 PM

That sucks. ANy idea why he's doing it? Is it retaliation for something? Is it possible you've donesomething and didn't know it? Maybe he's just a south end of a north bound mule?

It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.
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Posted by kstrong on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:05 AM
One simple solution would be to get a digital camera that can be set to do timelapse photography. Most DSLRs can. They're a bit pricey (starting at around $500), but you only need one. You may or may not need a computer to control it, depending on the camera. Set it up in a window that overlooks the railroad, and set it to take a photo every minute or so. Use the lowest file size and a 16 GB card, and you'll be able to put thousands of images on the card--probably enough for a week's photos. For nighttime, get a motion detector for your lights. If the lights coming on doesn't scare the perps away to begin with, they'll provide the camera with enough light to capture their faces. The upside to this solution is that when you are home, you've got yourself a very nice camera for taking far more pleasurable photos of the railroad. Sorry I can't help you with the surveillance computer aspect, but I suspect that wouldn't be too difficult to set up. Good luck. Sorry to hear about the crappy situation. Sounds to me like you need to vote for the other candidate for Sheriff next election. ;) Later, K
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Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:06 AM

Spike:

Here is another possible solution. Go to your favorite "Hunting Supply Store". You can find Game Cameras there. These things are motion activated, can be programmed to take sequential photos when activated. Also look into installing motion activated area floodlights. You can get a decent game camera for around $80~$120, add another $20 for a memory card to take more pics.

Game cameras are designed to be tied to trees, but you could put it on the window sill.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:01 PM

Hey, if it used to work for catching tigers....

...I would look into Toms suggestions.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by altterrain on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:41 PM

 I'm no help here. I would have taken a base ball bat to his head  by now and buried him far, far away never to be found......

-Brian   Evil

President of
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 4:07 PM

Putting more hours on a tape or a disc means fuzzier pictures.  A motion detection device starting a high resolution recorder will provide a much better recording.

I used 8 hour tapes to see what or who was causing havoc in my fish pond.  All raccoons look alike on an 8 hour tape and I suspect that would be the case with humans, too.  No good for positive identification purposes.

I've seen motion devices to turn on sprinklers, and my garage lights are motion activated.  Home Depot, Lowes, and Radio Shack might have a solution.

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  • From: Ivins Utah
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Posted by Camaro1967 on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 8:39 PM

 The game camera is the way to go.  They are activated by motion, if they can catch a deer, they surely can catch this guy tearing up your layout. Believe me, I had a neighbot from hell once , and the pictures we took completely invalidated his lies, and we won big. 

Paul

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 9:10 PM

artschlosser
I've seen motion devices to turn on sprinklers

That might work... Mischief

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Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 9:55 PM

Vic: what happened, your pic came out as a little box with a red x!

is this what you were tring to post? a tiger pit?

http://image59.webshots.com/159/2/91/42/2237291420079534274gkFDiF_ph.jpg

OK, what is wrong with the pic?  It shows in the compose page, but does not come throught to the posts?  The link should tay you to Vic' pix.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:00 PM

Am I going completely senile?  the pix were not here and now they are?  Yes I got my new "Quad-focals" from the eye doctor so we cannot blame him.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:03 AM

Spikejones

I got a motion devices at a place called Harbor Freight Co. it was a two piece thing ,the one piece you put in the house it was an alarm, which was set off by the motion device out side, it was only around $ 20.00 , it used batterys. I  had it about 4 years it worked day or night .  Ben

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Posted by Texas Zepher on Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:48 PM

There are also DVR and Web-Cam serviellance products.  The amout of time recorded is limited only by the hard drive(s) size.  Web-cams can also be configured to be motion activated.    We have remote property and are considering such a system.  The system we are looking at has a web interface that allows us to watch real-time (and select which of 8 cameras) as well as reviewing the recorded material remotely.  Likewise we can delete unwanted recordings remotely.

This is not THE one we are looking at but it gives you an idea.  Right now I cannot recommend an exact system.: http://www.surveillance-video.com/8csbn160.html

  • Member since
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Posted by spikejones52002 on Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:34 PM

 Thank You for all the suggestions.

I tried a motion detection camera for Animals. The next day I checked the full card. Bugs in motion set it off. I could not see much at night. The flash was good for a few feet.

The one suggest for the 8 eight camera looks good. I do not web. I have only dial up at home. It is so bad that I am disconnecting it. I drive the library and use WI/FI.

Most home recorders are 24 FPS. If I can get a computer that will scan eight cameras every second.  That would be 3 frames per camera. God detail.

I have 2 D/N cameras to watch animals. Day time very good. Night is limited by I/R provided by their LEDs. good to about 25 feet.

So I would need to have I/R flood light assistance for distance of  75 ft.

I need proof positive.

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Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:12 PM

What about checking out getting the survailence equipment from some business that is shutting down, or a bank branch that is closing??  I'd think that they are able to rerecord if nothing happened, or be somehow activated if needed.    We used to use a tape backup which we changed at 0800 every morning, tape A and Tape B, if something arose we could go to the tape for proof of what went on.  

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Posted by tangerine-jack on Friday, May 22, 2009 11:29 AM

Your game camera is defective if it takes pix of bugs.  I would suggest trying it again with one that works properly.  My solution to irritating neighbors is a dog in the 90lb range, works every time and 100% legal.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure you have NO TRESPASSING (and BEWARE OF DOG if using that most ancient and trusted security system) signs posted on your property.  This is vital or the police will not do anything.  This is the world we live in, the criminal has carte blanche and the victim must work through the legal system to protect rights.

The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"

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Posted by Mr_Ash on Friday, May 22, 2009 1:43 PM

I work Security, the site I work at had the old VCR setup you change out daily when I started here back in 01 now its all digital for every VCR we had we now have these computers dedicated to the various CCTV systems that record everything digitaly and let you go back and view footage from a few months back.

Also you want a camera setup that only records motion!

http://vicon-cctv.com/ we get most of our stuff from these guys

 

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Posted by Cheese on Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:46 PM

 

In South Carolina it is legal to shoot and kill a person respassing on your property should you feel threatened. However this is not something I would reccommend, especially if the trespasser has political friends. The cameras and sprinklers would be a better way to go.

Cheese

 

Nick! :)

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Posted by Capt Bob Johnson on Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:42 PM

TJ, You know how terrible my "Paws and Jaws Mobile Alarm System" is, Only thing she'll bark at is if you take her food away!

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Posted by g. gage on Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:15 PM

I like the idea of a “Paws & Jaws Mobile Alarm System”; ours never failed. I’ve also heard Geese make good guards.

 

When Florida tried to enact a law allowing a property owner to shoot a person trespassing, I lobbied against it. At the time I worked for Southern Bell telephone; many a time utility workers have to do work on pole lines running down back yard utility easement. Poles are normally placed at the four property corners. Workers are not allotted time to notify all four owners. If the owner isn’t home we must go through the yard to access poles on utility easements; except if there was a “Paws & Jaws Mobile Alarm System” (dog).

 

Good luck, Rob

 

Shu
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Posted by Shu on Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:40 PM

Well, here is what I did and it seems to work pretty good. I downloaded a program from the web, actually several until I picked one final program. The program will allow you to connect multiple web cams that can be purchased from $20 bucks on up. I have a computer in my covered train shop and it runs this program when I am not at home. I work for a fire department so when I am at work, it is for 24 or 48 hours at a time. Now, when the software is running, you can set it up so that if the image that the webcam is seeing changes, it will do one (or more) of several different things including start taking pictures silently and save them to your hard drive, send them to the internet for safe keeping, sound an alarm, etc etc. In my case, I have 3 cameras. One mounted at the extreme end of my layout and a second one covering the computer area. anyone enters the layout area, it starts saving pictures and video on a remote server. The second camera will do the same if they mess with the computer. It's a pretty economical fix for a nasty problem. Even if they realize that the cameras are there and destroy them lets say, I got em on video at a remote site. The software is called WebCamXP and a 60 day trial is free. Even if you buy it for the $50 askin price and a couple high quality web cams you are still under $150-$200 provided you have a computer to donate to the project. The baseball bat method would be great though - Good Luck with this Jerk - Shu 

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Posted by Mr_Ash on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 1:07 PM

Shu

Well, here is what I did and it seems to work pretty good. I downloaded a program from the web, actually several until I picked one final program. The program will allow you to connect multiple web cams that can be purchased from $20 bucks on up. I have a computer in my covered train shop and it runs this program when I am not at home. I work for a fire department so when I am at work, it is for 24 or 48 hours at a time. Now, when the software is running, you can set it up so that if the image that the webcam is seeing changes, it will do one (or more) of several different things including start taking pictures silently and save them to your hard drive, send them to the internet for safe keeping, sound an alarm, etc etc. In my case, I have 3 cameras. One mounted at the extreme end of my layout and a second one covering the computer area. anyone enters the layout area, it starts saving pictures and video on a remote server. The second camera will do the same if they mess with the computer. It's a pretty economical fix for a nasty problem. Even if they realize that the cameras are there and destroy them lets say, I got em on video at a remote site. The software is called WebCamXP and a 60 day trial is free. Even if you buy it for the $50 askin price and a couple high quality web cams you are still under $150-$200 provided you have a computer to donate to the project. The baseball bat method would be great though - Good Luck with this Jerk - Shu 

 Thats a pretty good setup for a smaller budget, reminds me of what some people rig up to keep at eye on there home and or nanny/babysitter from work

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