Bump in the night - an alternative to clearing your house.

[blanco64]

I was awakened by a "bump" this morning about 5:00. Quickly realized it was the next door neighbors Christmas guests loading their car to head out, but it reminded me to look into this.

I'm looking at something like this Swann - Advanced Security Made Easy - DVR8-2550 8 Channel Networking Digital Video Recorder & 4 x PRO-580 Cameras for home security monitoring. I haven't completely nailed down the details, but apparently you can monitor the cameras from your smartphone or computer or a connected TV. It'll even send you an email if the motion detectors are tripped (although in my case the dogs would be sending me a bunch of emails every day). You can get them quite a bit cheaper than the MSRP.

My thoughts are: If you think someone may be in your house (alarm went off, bumps, etc.) before sweeping your house or calling the police, you can grab your smartphone or turn on your bedroom TV and see what's going on in the different parts of your house before deciding what to do next. You could also check it from outside your home if you come home and find your house open.

I found a few old posts with suggestions for various systems, but not in-depth discussion on the practicality or tactical use.

Thoughts?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[OldVet]

My house is very cluttered, but I have no problem seeing where I'm going in the dark. Any BG who comes in with no flashlight is going to be falling all over the place. I hope I can hit him as he hops around holding his skinned shin.

[Devilsclaw]

Make sure you have a static IP or that your ISP doesn't block the ports you need to use. You can use services like NOIP, but I still could not get it to work. I figured out a workaround, but it wasn't easy. Just saying that it doesn't always work the way they sell it.

You might need to get a computer geek to help you set it up. And if it reboots, it may destroy all your settings, and you have to start over.

But, yeah, if it works, it would be great.

[oldnfat]

Seems like a good idea. Technology is great when it works.

[NCSoxFan]

I'm afraid this could be an example of when technology leads to complacency and you all know the rest.

[Ghost1958]

Motion sensor lights cameras are all good. Our clubhouse was located for a while that had all that and it was great. Until a power failure. Then everything had to be reset to work as it should. Not to mention that power failures seem to be good at attracting the woolyboogers to come out and pilfer around.

[Bardo]

I was awakened by a "bump" this morning about 5:00. Quickly realized it was the next door neighbors Christmas guests loading their car to head out, but it reminded me to look into this.

I'm looking at something like this Swann - Advanced Security Made Easy - DVR8-2550 8 Channel Networking Digital Video Recorder & 4 x PRO-580 Cameras for home security monitoring. I haven't completely nailed down the details, but apparently you can monitor the cameras from your smartphone or computer or a connected TV. It'll even send you an email if the motion detectors are tripped (although in my case the dogs would be sending me a bunch of emails every day). You can get them quite a bit cheaper than the MSRP.

My thoughts are: If you think someone may be in your house (alarm went off, bumps, etc.) before sweeping your house or calling the police, you can grab your smartphone or turn on your bedroom TV and see what's going on in the different parts of your house before deciding what to do next. You could also check it from outside your home if you come home and find your house open.

I found a few old posts with suggestions for various systems, but not in-depth discussion on the practicality or tactical use.

Thoughts?

I have these. They are excellent. Yes, I monitor them on my iPhone and iPad as well as a dedicated monitor. Requires some tech savvy to set up.

[45ACPonly]

Dogs are the best tools for house clearing. Of course, you shouldn't knowingly send your best friends toward harm way unless your family members are still down that end. If everyone is accounted for and clear danger is identified, just send a few rounds of 9 mm or .223 or whichever appropriate for your dwelling and neighborhood. I'll replaced the microwave, toaster, and even the TV before clearing the house knowing that the foreign sound is from inside. Fortunately, my cruiser parks in the driveway so I never get bothered, even by Jehovah's Witness. There are several other cruisers from various branches of law enforcement so this subdivision is pretty safe but I still lock the front gate and find myself cruising the street even when I am off-duty.

Also, lights programmed with timers are your friends to provide a live-in illusion, whether you're home or not. Get yourself some LED lights and learn to sleep with the lights on. It works for me.

[ANGLICO]

The first response is a well armed Marine, trained in CQB, clearing my house............. Word. Son #1 and #2 have gotten the same protocal in local security. Son #2 is NSW, so when he visits at home............ ain't got no worries.

My wife knows not to move anything in the house more than 1 inch unless informing me............. as I will get up 'and roam around' at night and it would very anoy me to trip over somthing that is out of place.......... No light is life! We fight at night an know our space. The BG's don't.

[ZacMan1987]

Looks like a decent idea. I've said it before and I say it again: 90+% of DC doesn't have the CQB know how to "clear" a house without putting themselves in more danger than they are likely preventing. That percentage includes me btw. Sit tight and call 911. This could definitely help ID where the threat is though.

[short10]

I have a camera / dvr setup like the one you mentioned, although mine is a 4 camera system. The setup for remote viewing (over internet and smartphone) was a little more complicate that the labeling indicated, but after a little research I had it up and running. We were able to provide clear images of a person who tried to break into our back door to the police. Fortunately that one was scarred off quickly before ever getting the door opened.

I was at work, and my wife and kids were home. She heard a noise and I had set up a shortcut on her laptop to immediately access the cameras. She pulled them up and knew immediately what was happening. Had they not been scared off so easily, my wife would have had the upper hand in that she knew how many intruders, what they had, and exactly where they were. She had plenty of time to get the kids to a safe location and ready a weapon.

The important thing to remember is that the camera's never catch everything and they are just a tool to use as PART of securing your home. You should never assume that all is clear just because you didn't happen to see anything on the cameras.