I have some solar powered lights that are along my driveway and sidewalk. A few weeks ago I noticed the one at the bottom of my driveway was missing. I figured it was just a prank by some kids and let it go. However this morning there were 3 more missing. I need ideas to help catch whoever it is doing this. I am thinking of getting a little wireless security camera with night vision. I also thought about cutting the end off of an extension cord and soldering the wires to the metal pole that the light sits on, then plugging it in a night. I figured that would probably end up in a lawsuit though. Realistically I can't sit up every night and keep watch on my yard because I don't know what time it's happening and there are weeks between occurrences. Anyone had any experience with petty theft around their house? What did you do to combat it?

7/10/2007 9:38:59 AM

you need to break that up a little bit so its easier to read

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 9:40 AM. Reason : do you have motion lights]

7/10/2007 9:40:13 AM

Motion-sensor controlled guns.

7/10/2007 9:41:25 AM

Spray the Lights down in mace every night

Motion sensing security light

Do the live current to the lights thing

Low-jack your lights

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 9:42 AM. Reason : a]

7/10/2007 9:41:27 AM

Get a night vision ip camera and monitor it with this:

http://www.pysoft.com/ActiveWebCamMainpage.htm

7/10/2007 9:57:31 AM

Tried to break it up, guess I can't edit after 30 minutes...sorry for the offense to your eyes.

I have motion lights but they are old and don't seem to work well unless you get up close.

I thought about putting some kind of substance on the lights, like glue or paint that would stick to the thief's hand, but that would require doing that every night which isn't practical.

One thing I want to avoid is spending $200 to protect $80 worth of lights. I'm thinking the wireless motion sensor camera is the best option. That Active Webcam software looks like it would be a good option, only $30 too. Thanks for the link.

7/10/2007 10:15:05 AM

Any of your friends have a dog you could borrow (for the lack of a better word) for a while?

7/10/2007 10:39:00 AM

1) Rig a $4 personal alarm with some fishing wire.
2) ???
3) Profit


http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-SmartHouse-Personal-Security-Alarm-NEW_W0QQitemZ230140556788QQcmdZViewItem
"120 dB alarm sounds when pin is removed from keychain"


-- Dave

7/10/2007 10:41:32 AM

but seriously a camera is always a good bet...you can probably get something for fairly cheap that you can plug up to your computer and at night you can have it start recording when there is motion

for example http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=350&sec=0

7/10/2007 10:45:51 AM

If you got a camera, wouldn't you have to get a waterproof one? Even if it doesn't rain, humidity/dew could mess one up. I suppose if there is a window overlooking the driveway that would work but the thing with cameras are that yeah you might see someone taking the lights but would it get you a good enough look at the person? And even if you did get you a good look at their face would you be able to recognize them and confront them about it? I would think it would be more effective to have something wake you up so that you could catch them red handed.

7/10/2007 10:52:03 AM

as far as the camera, i was assuming something indoors...hopefully you could get a good enough look to see if it was a neighbor or something

i set up a few of those D-Link cameras at a job a few years back...I put them inside enclosures for the rain/weather but they worked pretty well...lemme see if i can find them if they still have them up

here they are http://www.tidescharleston.com/cam.asp

btw thats the medium resolution...you can set them larger/clearer than that...i just remember they had a "record on motion" feature or something that would begin recording when they detected movement, and you could set the hours so it wouldnt record "regular stuff" during the daytime

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 10:55 AM. Reason : .]

7/10/2007 10:53:45 AM

I bet it's a neighborhood dog.

But maybe you could hire some mercs from Blackwater just in case?

7/10/2007 11:46:13 AM

Quote :

"http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-SmartHouse-Personal-Security-Alarm-NEW_W0QQitemZ230140556788QQcmdZViewItem "120 dB alarm sounds when pin is removed from keychain""

That's actually a really good idea. I might have to look into that.

I don't think it's a dog. The lights are on aluminum poles which are being taken as well. Actually one of the poles was left this morning, just the light on top was taken off. Also 2 of the lights weren't working right and the left those, only taking the working ones. So I think it's pretty obvious it's a person.

We also have two dogs, but they are small and are in the house. There is a dog door that they can use to go out into the back yard which is fenced, but there is no way they would be able to hear a person sneak up and take the lights while sleeping in the house (unless there was a 120 dB alarm hooked to them...).

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far.

7/10/2007 12:05:07 PM

Def. your best bet is that personal alarm. Even if you don't see the person who is taking them, someone else probably will and may recognize them.

7/10/2007 12:08:23 PM

rig one of these to your lights.

7/10/2007 12:30:10 PM

It's probably some kids. I bet they have a hella bad treehouse or shack in the woods. You should see if you can start hanging out with them.

7/10/2007 12:39:50 PM

set up a cardboard cutout of chris hansen and a tape a motion activated recorder to the back that says "hi, im chris hansen, wanna tell me what you're doing here?"

7/10/2007 12:57:12 PM

lol

7/10/2007 12:59:35 PM

if you hook up your extension cord and fry them, you are gonna be in more trouble than them.

7/10/2007 1:02:52 PM

Coat them with somethign that will burn like fire when touched like Lie or soemthing... non-lethal, and they won't have anything to say b/c they were trying to steal your lights...

downside your house might get egged/rolled when their hands recover

7/10/2007 1:08:41 PM

more like if you set it up to fry them, set up a webcam we can all view

7/10/2007 1:09:05 PM

Quote :

"set up a cardboard cutout of chris hansen and a tape a motion activated recorder to the back that says "hi, im chris hansen, wanna tell me what you're doing here?""

Why don't you just have a seat right over there for me...[oh no... oh no]

7/10/2007 1:46:26 PM

Tape razor blades onto the base of the light or on the area where one would grab the light. Follow the blood trail to the location of the bandit. Shove light up their ass.

7/10/2007 1:54:09 PM

i like the electrocution idea. fuck a law suit...its your property.

OR just put up a High voltage sign next to them to cover your ass =P

7/10/2007 2:44:35 PM

Optstand: You can use that software without buying it. It just puts a small watermark on the image. Also, it has built in motion detection so you can buy a cheaper camera.

7/10/2007 3:24:18 PM

So the neighbor kid comes over today with one of the lights. It's missing the glass housing and pole and he also had an extra battery from another unit. He said it was next to their AC unit which is between our two houses. He's 10 and we know the family well so I am not suspecting them at all. I think whoever is doing this is going through the back yards of the houses in our neighborhood so they aren't seen as easily.

Also he says that his friend's neighbor (about 9 houses away) was taking pictures of everything in his yard the other day for insurance purposes, because he had some stuff stolen too.

There's also a park about 1/2 a mile a way that sits down off the road and is fairly secluded. I've seen kids hanging out down there late at night before and occasionally some graffiti will appear on a bench or something. My wife called the Town of Cary and filed a report and they said this time of year it's common and that the park near us is often a spot where a lot of these kids meet up late at night.

I'll probably pick up a wireless infrared camera and use the free monitoring software to try to get some footage of whoever this is. If I get any good video I'll definitely post it. I messed around with my motion sensing flood lights but they are old and one of them doesn't seem to work right. Plus it's outside my daughter's window and shines right in any time it's turned on.

Thanks for all the ideas. I know in the scheme of things it's a petty crime, but it's the principle of someone coming into my yard taking stuff that I paid for that pisses me off.

7/10/2007 11:18:54 PM

Quote :

"if you hook up your extension cord and fry them, you are gonna be in more trouble than them."

If you run a line off your washer/dryer or something you're not going to fry them with just an extension cord.

I suggest one of these.... If you think it's inhumane use rubber bullets (instead of depleted uranium discarding sabots)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_weapon_system

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 11:27 PM. Reason : .]

7/10/2007 11:25:47 PM

"Claymore, Claymore!" BOOM!

7/10/2007 11:25:59 PM

Something that would help would be those hunting cameras that you can get at Wal-mart. They take pictures whenever there is motion. You can get them camoflouged and just post it on a tree looking at the lights.

7/11/2007 12:29:15 PM

^ Agreed. You could also hook it to one of the trees in your back yard if you think they are going through there. Someone could definately cut it down, but it would take a good bit of time and noise to do so. I wonder if they make one that takes good night photos without turning the flash on?

7/11/2007 1:28:43 PM

Post signs in the park that offer a reward for the return of the lights.



then rape the kid that turns them in.




or just post up a bunch of fake camera domes and signs in your yard. that scares most kids.

7/11/2007 1:38:19 PM

There's a low light night camera for sale on X10.com for $100 today. Wireless, comes with a remote to pan and tilt the camera, works outdoors too. Seems like a decent deal, I'm thinking about moving on that and mounting it on my front porch to look down onto the driveway where the remaining lights are. I have nearly zero exposure to security cameras so I don't know what is a good deal and what isn't, so if anyone knows of something better let me know.

7/11/2007 3:50:10 PM

just an FYI you need either 7or8fps to be legal proof that can be accepted and an identity can be taken from... (I can't remember if its 7 or 8 though...)

7/11/2007 3:56:31 PM

http://anytrack.com/?leadsource=73&gclid=CIKSnNrBoY0CFQGfHgodbklV0A

7/12/2007 3:40:58 AM

the stealing of flood lights on a property is a sign for a later set up to gain complete entry to your home without the risk of being seen on the approach.

thats what i would be worrying about.

what are you going to do with a picture of them if you don't know them?

7/12/2007 3:51:49 AM

Quote :

"I have some solar powered lights that are along my driveway and sidewalk."

not floodlights.

7/12/2007 5:08:54 AM

Yeah they aren't flood lights, they are little solar powered landscaping lights that run along the side of my driveway and sidewalk. They have 1 little blue LED in them that is powered by a couple rechargeable AA batteries.

7/12/2007 9:25:47 AM

Quote :

"I wonder if they make one that takes good night photos without turning the flash on?"

yes. infrared flash. works well. i'd rather get that and a low light camera.

the x10 camera is overpriced. you can get a 2 camera with night enhancement and color cameras for a tiny bit more than that.

7/12/2007 10:51:27 AM

Based on the ones I've seen, the image quality of the x10 is really bad too.

7/12/2007 11:44:32 AM

CSI actors = TWW posters?!?!

I also saw a lil Macgyver come out in a couple of you...I like it. Now all we need to do is catch the criminal and round house him, and we'll add the Walker, Texas Ranger to mix.

Sweet


[Edited on July 12, 2007 at 1:14 PM. Reason : .]

7/12/2007 1:12:48 PM

color security camera at sams club that connects directly to a vcr is $25.

good deal.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?catg=535&item=137856&prDeTab=2#A

there is some other deal that i can't remember at the moment.

7/18/2007 8:26:18 PM

electricution, but take a video and post it here as well

7/18/2007 8:53:43 PM

7/18/2007 9:03:41 PM