CCTV

[JoceAndChris]

Woken up by the police this morning, the car has had its window broken again - twice in one week - and even more shockingly, the policeman was horrified by extensive damage to the graves which are a short walk away from our house. I haven't been to look yet but apparently it's really bad. This is a historic burial place with the new section at the back, 5 mins from our house. It's a very well maintained place and the new section flooded with teddy bears, solar lights, little windmills, etc. I just cant believe people would seek to destroy this very personal demonstration of grief.
They've captured the youths' images on CCTV but apparently they're too young to get much more than a ticking off.
I'm wondering if we should instal CCTV or automated floodlights for where we park? Do you think it would help? The car must certainly be garaged, from now on.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Yes I would put floodlights on a PIR sensor thingymabob. It would make them jump if a light came on. And either a real cctv or even a fake one.


So mad on your behalf!!! Sending a hug.
xxxxcxxxx

 

[Feltwell]

Hard to say. If there's power nearby already then lighting would be cheap & easy to do. Something to make them think they are likely to be noticed - so lighting, maybe some gravel underfoot if that's possible?

Can you have the car nearer the house? If they are that young that CCTV images are of little use then I don't see the point in spending out on it.

 

[LadyArowana]

Really sorry to hear that news, how horrible. It's shocking that such mini thugs get no more than a telling off, no wonder they graduate to worse things. Hugsxxx

 

[Schoolmarm]

Yes but the chicks and the garden and house need protecting too so putting them off is important.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks. Lighting isn't easy to do which is why we haven't done it - but of course is possible. I think at least one by the car park and one by the chicks.
Can't really move the car into the garden without a major bit of landscape redesign, there's a long, winding, stepped path to the house, and dozens of trees in the way.
The best thing will be to put it in the garage, which is not attached to the house, but we don't, because it takes about ten minutes. We need up and over doors, preferably automated. The quote for that was 2k!!!
I take your point about the CCTV Feltwell.
We should do a night patrol at weekends in summer months. A midnight lap of the house, in the car.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Little swines. Hang 'em and then beat them, and then parade them through the streets. (Not necessaily in that order). Whatever you do, do not hug these little thugs. Desecrating graves is a very very low thing to do... a bit of graffiti or even a car window you can forgive as youthful exuberance. Wrecking gravestones is never something a normal person can rationalise.

Yes - put PIR triggered floodlights round the whole property. The ones from B&Q are really quite discreet now and very cheap. It's an easy job to do. You could probably even rig it up by the car to a speaker to play a recorded message "Dear scroats. We're filming you. If you come back we'll let the tigers out"*

* Speak to Penners about this; he has been deterring tigers from his property for many years, I am sure he can get you one.

Unless the CCTV is good quality, and they are above the age of ticking off, then these are probaby just as effective by the car/entrance to your track:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A4%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4903&rt=nc&_nkw=cctv+sign&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1

 

[Flyfisher]

They've captured the youths' images on CCTV but apparently they're too young to get much more than a ticking off.

Unbelievable. If they can't do anything to them directly then their parents should be fined and made to pay for the damage. What's happened to responsibility these days? :evil:

I would install some PIR lighting Joce, preferably ones that can be over-ridden so they will stay on. Not just for this sort of thing, but also for your own convenience and for when you wish to entertain outside on balmy summer evenings.

 

[d49xc]

Yes I would put floodlights on a PIR sensor thingymabob. It would make them jump if a light came on. And either a real cctv or even a fake one

Sorry to hear about this.
In country areas where the houses are far apart my opinion is that PIR controlled lights just tend to make it easier for the criminals to go about their business now that the place has been lit.
I'v certainly seen a CCTV footage where the lights did seem to make it easier for the would be burglars/vandals/halloween pranksters to see what they were doing - they certainly did not do a runner when they came on:

 

[TomW]

I can certainly commiserate with you on the damage to your car, it seems to be the vandals practice of choice in country areas.
I have had my car damaged five times since moving to Sudbury, whereas previously in Romford, I had no problems.
Regarding lighting I would echo what others have said, lights can make it easier for the thief, especially those 500w halogen lights which are so annoying as you walk past houses where they light up at the slightest movement and dazzle you. They are so bright that anyone hiding in the shadows is invisible.
Have a look at this for some good advice.
http://www.dark-sky-lighting.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=67009

 

[Feltwell]

I know you used to be able to get a tripwire setup linked to a blank shotgun cartridge - I googled this and yes, you still can:-

http://www.henrykrank.com/alarm_mine.html

I have no idea if these are legal. I don't really see why not - with a blank cartridge they shouldn't injure anyone, just scare them, so are little different to an ordinary alarm - but again I stress I don't know! However, if you forget it and give the postman a heart attack, or if the police came onto your property and set one off, I doubt they would be too amused.

 

[robgil]

I believe in an eye for an eye my self, i would be round their houses smashing their faces , erm , windows in.
In fact , a top plan is to keep your ear to the ground, find out who they are , then , wait until the dead of night, wear a mask and gloves and dark clothing, use an unmarked car, then , when all is quiet, go around to where they live and throw a load of rubbish into their gardens , that'll teach em.

 

[worms]

Sorry to hear about the local problems.

While a PIR light might seem a good idea, I would think that it will be set off by every passing cat/fox/badger/pine marten. You will see the light come on a dozen times a night and go rushing out in an adrenaline-fuelled charge to see off the miscreants. You will end up a nervous wreck!

 

[robgil]

Charging out there is a mistake if you ask me, on the right end of a shot gun perhaps but you could end up charging out on some drug fuelled youths who dont see the need to run away.

 

[Schoolmarm]

I hate outdoor lighting and our farm is pitch black. Joce also had a pitch black setting but has been targetted by vandals. What should she do?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thank you for all the kind responses. 'Marm, I'm not sure there's anything foolproof really, and whatever you decide to do, there always seem to be a couple of reasons why that's a bad idea!

I think in this instance automated floodlight where we park the car and where the entrance to the chicken orchard is would be a good idea. Because of the lie of the land, and all the trees, this would still mean that the garden around the house was in darkness, but I think an automated light, particularly if connected to a frightening sound, as Feltwell suggested, would make them jump.

There is no way to see the car park from the house, short of going out there - even if you walk up to the attic bedroom only the trees are visible.

Because of all this dense growth, and the distance, and the thick walls of the house, I haven't ever heard the attacks on my car. I wouldn't see the light being automated by a fox, or whatever.

It's very sad that we have to spend time and money on this when there are so many other things that need doing -we already spent 3k on a burglar alarm, after the burglary, and £600 on an electric fence, after people's dogs killed my chickens - it's so frustrating when I really want to be spending this on the house!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I believe in an eye for an eye my self, i would be round their houses smashing their faces , erm , windows in.
In fact , a top plan is to keep your ear to the ground, find out who they are , then , wait until the dead of night, wear a mask and gloves and dark clothing, use an unmarked car, then , when all is quiet, go around to where they live and throw a load of rubbish into their gardens , that'll teach em.

That was certainly the feeling in the cemetery this morning Rob, a lot of highly furious people who said they were going to take the law into their own hands. Forty graves vandalised, a scene of absolute chaos. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that vengeful crimes do take place to the culprits, but of course as a lone female (most of the time) I couldn't carry out your plan of attack!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I can certainly commiserate with you on the damage to your car, it seems to be the vandals practice of choice in country areas.
I have had my car damaged five times since moving to Sudbury, whereas previously in Romford, I had no problems.
Regarding lighting I would echo what others have said, lights can make it easier for the thief, especially those 500w halogen lights which are so annoying as you walk past houses where they light up at the slightest movement and dazzle you. They are so bright that anyone hiding in the shadows is invisible.
Have a look at this for some good advice.
http://www.dark-sky-lighting.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=67009

Thanks for the advice Tom. The nearest house is almost a mile off, and there are no roads here - just a muddy track. ( which is also a public footpath) In the hours of darkness it's completely deserted, so yes, the only annoyance it would cause is to the wildlife. I think I 'll get a few security companies out to advise, but your link was very interesting - if for the typical property, which this one isn't.
So sorry to hear about your troubles in your new location. :evil: I've found that the crime here is no worse than London, but it upsets me more for some reason.

 

[Penners]

Poor Joce - what a rotten thing to happen.

I agree entirely with your plan: garage the car and put up at least two PIR lights - not the puny 150W ones, but 500W ones. And I should do it urgently.

Attractive though the idea of the alarm mines is, I have a strong suspicion that - after a shock from the first bang - these vandals would quickly learn that the noise is harmless, and would actually enjoy returning nightly to set the thing off.

 

[robgil]

The best thing you can get is a barking dog, may it me real or electronic. :wink:
A movement sensor that sets of a recording of a barking dog and an opening and closing door, that would send anybody off in the right direction.
Perhaps even the voice of an angry farmer loading a shot gun ''right then , lets be f'ing avin ya'' , that would put the poopy bup bups up me big time.
I doubt lights would make a difference to a vandal, it would just mean they could see where they were throwing the brick.
That dark skies is interesting, i was reading up on it after staring at the sky for a while in my garden and wondering why i couldn't see it properly, and i live in one of the darkest parts of the country.The last time I was on holiday on a greek island light pollution was minimal and sitting on the beach looking up at the milkyway was such a cool experience.

some maps here might be of interest, more detailed maps are available in the right hand side of the page.

http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape/light-pollution/light-pollution-in-your-area