Jam Sandwich
Honorary Master
- Joined
- May 15, 2007
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Having cameras helped me catch a twat who robbed me...also helped in court to get a conviction.No.
Firstly, I can see outside because we don't have a 10 foot wall all around our perimeter. My theory is a lot of people build the wall and then it's human nature to get anxious because you can't see any more. Now you have a control centre in your kitchen instead of just being able to look out the window.
I'm skeptical that cameras have any effect on security. How is it supposed to work? Every time I've ever seen a crook on a camera it's the same thing - a guy wearing a hoodie, looking suspicious. Because it's dark it's rarely even possible to tell if it's a B/M or a C/M. What are you going to do with that? Tell your neighbourhood watch to be on the lookout for suspicious males? Lol. Now maybe if there's a proper crime like murder, some CCTV could be useful, but not on my house specifically.
As for deterrent effect, I think that's counteracted by the fact you've dropped 10s of grand on your perimeter defences in the first place. That just tells the professional housebreaking gang that you have some multiple of that in worth going in for. They can probably calculate it within a few Rand based on your external signals. They're not idiots.
Cameras are great when you come home in the wee hours and can check everything before you get home. Or you hear something dodgy in the middle of the night and can check it out without getting out of bed.
No they dont really deter people... One of the idiots who robbed me simply ducked under the camera and he magically vanished (actually he didnt vanish but in his pea sized brain he did).
Cameras are great for early warning though if well setup and you pay attention.
Also great at night time when the power is off and its darkness all around you.
I dont regret spending the R4k odd or whatever it was 5 years back for the 8 camera Hikvision set.