Hindsight is biting my friend after theft, need opinion on camera layout.

Ri22o

Ri22o

Known around here
Jul 30, 2020
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Indiana
A while back, I asked some questions for some friends who were interested in putting systems in at their houses. Well, one of them came home to find his lawnmower gone and reports from the neighbors about missing stuff as well. Hindsight being what it is....

His main concern for now is to get a system on his outbuilding where the lawnmower was taken. I have some general recommendations on what I would put where, but wanted some other input as well. For future expansion, and because I have more knowledge with it, I am going to recommend Blue Iris.

Here is what I am thinking for coverage.
  • T54IR-AS
    • 2.8mm
      • Man door, 70” height.
    • 3.6mm
      • Under lean-to, looking at man door.
  • T54IR-ZE
    • SE corner of lean-to, above man door, looking NW.
    • SW corner of lean-to, looking NE.
    • Left of left overhead door, looking SW.
    • Right of right overhead door, looking NW.
    • SE corner of building, looking W?
    • SE corner of building, looking N?
  • Color4K-T180
    • Above overhead doors as an overview to the W.
Should the S and W walls of the building be crossed? Just the W wall (back) of the building? He normally parks a trailer along the S wall, so an argument could be made there for crossed FOV. For the W wall, I would think it would be more important to look from the SE corner to the N where the gravel drive is, but someone could also approach from the S, which is possibly how they came a couple nights ago.

A couple layout ideas. Not sure if it's better to have the -ZEs on the corners or brought in towards the center to see further past the other -ZE pointed at it.

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Below is a crappy satellite image of the building. It's 30x60 with a 10x60 lean to. Lean to ceiling height is about 10' and overhead door height is 12'
North is up.
  • Xs are overhead doors.
  • O is man door.
  • Line is covered portion.
I know there is lighting, just can't remember how much. I do know there are lights above the overhead doors, and more might be able to be added. Adding IR floods is not an issue.
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Here is a better image, but with no building. The gravel drive goes to a house at the back of the property.
1732114065241.png

IMG_20241120_102750_01.jpgIMG_20241120_102754_01.jpgIMG_20241120_102757_01.jpgIMG_2768.jpegIMG_3284.jpeg
 
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Ri22o said:
Well, sent my friend some information and a list of recommended items to buy and haven't heard back, so he may be putting himself in the same boat again.
Click to expand...

That is unfortunately pretty typical. I have provided layouts and recommendations to dozens of neighbors and friends and they either don't follow thru or just put up a blink camera and then ask me if my cams caught who hit their car!
 
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The side of the building towards the road/lane is probably the most important to cover, ideally with to cameras zoomed in to catch people / vehicles as the approach.
If someone notices cameras, they may be able to adequately conceal themselves as they approach but they don't expect the camera to capture too much detail 50'+ away.

The IPC-Color4M-T is worth considering as it has some potential to scare someone off with flashing lights / sound.
 
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