Using Cheap Technology (Cameras) To Set Up Surveillance.

[SS227]

I've just been hired by a school in Scandinavia which has been vandelized more then ten times the past few months. It's been an ongoing issue, the school is located in a bad neighborhood, with many foreigners which roam in gangs.

The school has been defaced with anti-white slogans containing extremely hateful messages and curse words. (It's students are almost all white.) Play ground equpiment has been destroyed by use of aluminum baseball bats, (Found a dented up aluminum baseball bat thrown through a window.) etc. It's even been set on fire and burned to the ground in 1999 with another attemt to do so after it's been rebuilt in 2001. Luckily, only the storage room on the outside was damaged.

I'd like your input about this. I have seen these wireless cameras go for cheap, about $150us for a set of four with a wireless sender/receiver which sends the data to any tv/recorder.

My idea is this; To set up a network of about eight to twelve of these cameras looking out the windows to the areas in which recieve the most destruction.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

The reason I have to resort to cheaper tech is that the school doesn't have the resources to use on this. The police are undermanned and don't have the time to continually patrol the area more then they already do. So they need a quick, simple and cheap solution.

Or should I persuade them to actually set up an entire (and much more expensive) pemanent solution?

You can take a look at the cameras here: Four Wireless Infrared Day/Night Color Cameras and Receiver

They won't be purchased through that site, but through a retailer here. (Same cameras, just different voltage adapters.)

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Duncan

[SS227]

Since I've received no comments, I'll go ahead and order them today.

I personally think it is a good solution that will save them a few in the wallet. They're cheap, so replacing them shouldn't be such a problem either.

Anways, thanks to those who viewed.

Duncan

[Heno]

When it comes to cameras you really get what you pay for. The more expensive, the better the quality (usually). I sometimes use a similar set up, wireless camera/reciever and it has it's limitations.

I assume that the damage is happening at night so you would cameras with low lux capabilities, they would also need to be able to have enough lines of resolution in order to ID whoever is doing the damage, (at night this is not easy).

I understand that there are finacial limitations on this but if you use equipment that is not up to the job, then that is going to be money wasted.

[SS227]

Hey and thanks for the reply.

Indeed, we do get what we pay for. However, this is more or less a short term solution for the school.

Most of the vandalism happens at night, however the actual school grounds are decently lit. However, it sits out of watchful eyes behind a nice thick layer of trees covering it from all sides but the front.

The way I see it, is that since the area is well lit, properly identifying the ones doing the vandalism shouldn't be too difficult. Especially since these cameras will be placed near the windows, looking out to the area where most of the vandalism takes place. (The back, most covered by trees.)

I've taken a look at more expensive equipment, however they've totally shot my suggestions down in regards to better equipment I'm afraid.

I've made it clear that these aren't high quality, but they seem very happy with just getting some cameras up. I'm also going to set up my own camera which has a 640x480 resolution and IR sensor. Hopefully that can help as well.

[mts]

Look at your budget, get half the cameras you would idelaly have and make sure they're good quality. Get "placebo" camaera's for the rest :
Empty camera boxes with a LED so it looks like it's on.

The bad guys don;t know what's not real, they'll think it's all real and the deterrent factor will be worth far more than the actual cameras. Remember, you want to prevent the vandalism, catching the perps is secondary.

Good luck

M

[SS227]

That's true MTS. But again, it's up to what the school wants. And as far as I have come to understand, is that they don't want any cameras 'on the outside'. I've persuaded them to allow me to set up a temporary camera, but that'll be for a month or two off and on.

But I'm second guessing my camera choices. Any suggestions for a couple of decent cameras for around 3-500$ U.S?

[Hawk]

Sorry missed this also get a licens / authorisation to use them its unleagal in many places unless application and approved.
Also remember if you are filming on night it must be good stuff or lights to light up the area..

Also do a physical Surveillance with good camera equipment, in times that has been reported then there are no problems due to law..and citizens have the right to document and arrest when a crime is taken place..

cheers
hawk

[Spikeman]

If this is a short term thing why not put Security Guards in there?

[niallyan]

Just a quick one but i have tried something similar and was informed that if you have multiple sets of wireless cameras then their signals could interfere with each other. I don't know what the wireless frequencies are in Scandinavia but if its similar to the UK then there are four variations to the 2.4Ghz supplied in each pack and each pack will have the same frequencies. The other thing about wireless cameras is that they generally don't have the range that is advertised and are affected by local conditions (Building materials, Television/Satellite signals, WLANS and strong electrical signals, overhead power lines and trains etc). Sorry to put a downer on your situation but hard wired cameras give a better image and you 'Know' that you will get an image recorded. Good quality (1/3" HAD CCD) covert cameras on the roof could provide the imagery whilst as mts said, a Couple of dummies could bottleneck the offenders. Hope this helps

[Heno]

.....or you could wait in the bushes with a camcorder.....and a great big baseball bat.