Security for the security camera?

[tearapin]

I have researched this but have come up empty.

I have an area which has about a 6 foot overhang over a door. I want to put a camera there but I am thinking the black hoodie gang will just come and poop the camera off the mount.

In calling a few camera companies all they will do is disable the camera for use. Even if you do not have a cloud subscription they will still do this. However, that is all they do.

So my question is has anyone come up with a way to secure the camera to a wall. At least making it more than just a simple click pop off or unscrewing task. Ripping the screws off the wall is one thing but simply unscrewing the cam or popping it off the mount makes it a bit too easy.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Put it in a location that isn't as obvious... Fab up an expanded metal cage to put around it... At work we had an installer actually put it inside a building with a port to look thru the wall to monitor our fuel island... Extreme, but hey, it was a higher than average location for felonious misdeeds by unencouraged incorrigable youth... If they don't see it, they won't boost it.

 

[LXCam]

Get a IP66 rated camera with a SD card internal backup (Bosch and others offer this) Make sure it’ll be no easy ask to pry it off its mount. If you have a picture, that’d really help to make a suggestion.

 

[ehcsrop]

Depending on where in this overhang this will be installed you can use some chain-link fence. The camera will not see the metal if it is in close range.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I sure hope they don't poop the camera...
There are hidden camera options, or 'hardened' installations that are more difficult to defeat. Or maybe you need a second camera that's in a tree or up on a pole, monitoring the first camera.

 

[mikedodge]

There should be camera guards available but it doesn't really matter how simple it is to pop off they're not going to mess with that if they can get to it they'll bust it off with a bat or something else.

 

[75gmck25]

In the movies they often take a simple approach - use a spray paint can with an extension stick and you can easily black out a camera if its not mounted really high.

 

[tearapin]

Get a IP66 rated camera with a SD card internal backup (Bosch and others offer this) Make sure it’ll be no easy ask to pry it off its mount. If you have a picture, that’d really help to make a suggestion.

I do not have a picture because I do not have the camera yet. I was looking for a mount that was more secure than just popping the cam off it. I do not have a picture of the location but it would be mounted at about 7 feet high because that is where the roof comes down. A 65 inch and up person can reach up and touch it.

 

[Higgins]

There are a lot of bird houses that have
predrilled holes so you can install a camera inside.

or other natural seasonal decorations that one would find on a front porch. Picked up several at local church rummage sales!

 

[dcg9381]

I have an area which has about a 6 foot overhang over a door. I want to put a camera there but I am thinking the black hoodie gang will just come and poop the camera off the mount. In calling a few camera companies all they will do is disable the camera for use. Even if you do not have a cloud subscription they will still do this. However, that is all they do.

Not sure I follow on the cloud thing. In most cases you'll get the recording. Why would they take it down if they can just throw some duct tape over it or if you have an exposed wire, just cut that...? I have at least 2 cameras out front at 5', no one has messed with them.

Prior house I had a kid "shoot out" a camera at the mailbox. He did take out the camera. He didn't take out the stored video, nor did he notice the cameras that were up in the trees that had more stored video.

So my question is has anyone come up with a way to secure the camera to a wall. At least making it more than just a simple click pop off or unscrewing task. Ripping the screws off the wall is one thing but simply unscrewing the cam or popping it off the mount makes it a bit too easy.

The ubiquity cameras I have include a "theft deterrent". You need a special tool. But even with that tool, take me a bit to get the camera off and none of them would survive getting wacked with a 3lb hammer.

There are a lot of bird houses that have
predrilled holes so you can install a camera inside.

I like the "hide it" idea.

 

[kj_mustang]

Higher up, unreachable location is the best defense. Depends on what you are trying to watch as to the best location for mounting.

 

[tearapin]

Higher up, unreachable location is the best defense. Depends on what you are trying to watch as to the best location for mounting.

There is little flexibility in mounting to obtain a door view unfortunately.

 

[kj_mustang]

nearby buildings, pole, etc?

 

[tearapin]

nearby buildings, pole, etc?

No, not where I can still view the door with the camera.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Vandal-Proof Security Cameras & Surveillance Systems

Pelco’s tamper-proof security cameras are rated IK10 vandal-resistant to help you monitor environments at risk of vandalism or physical destruction.

www.pelco.com

Vandal resistant……. NOT Poop resistant.

 

[gatewaysysop]

FWIW, get a good enough camera that you can put it up high enough to not be easily @#$%ed with, but still capture the detail you want.

I hear the argument that people only screw with cameras they can see, and maybe hiding them is an option, but remember that people only fear cameras they can see. Cameras are best as a deterrent, because the alternative is having footage of your **** walking out the door. I'd rather it not walk out the door because the presence of a conspicuous camera (or multiple cameras) told them to find an easier target down the road.

Just my $.02, hope it helps?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

No, not where I can still view the door with the camera.

POE doorbell from reolink....

do people really mess with stuff in your area?

 

[75gmck25]

I used to see places that sold fake cameras. Some had small blinking LED light to make it look like they were actually working, and the more expensive ones appeared to track motion. The idea was to install a couple of real cameras (maybe hidden), but supplement them with enough fake cameras so that it appeared you had really had good coverage. While they were screwing around trying to disable the fake cameras, the real cameras were still uploading the footage of the bad guys to the cloud. YMMV

 

[nadogail]

A disposable Decoy Camera might give the vandals confidence that they are not going to be visible.
A hidden camera, maybe looking out of a birdhouse, would capture evidence of their activities.

 

[LXCam]

There’s a ton of covert gear out there. Stuff that no one would ever notice if done right. The reason for my suggestion of a SD card is it’s great backup if power or connectivity is killed or even vandalized. Short of someone taking the camera, you can pull the card and see what went down.

Here’s something simple n cheap but it’s got the right specs for your application.

Mini Magnetic Nanny Camera 1080P with Audio (No WiFi)

Monitor your home or business when you’re away with our wide selection of advanced feature-rich, and discrete nanny cams for sale. Order today.

knowyournanny.com

 

[MichaelP]

Put a name plate on the door: "Genovese family"

 

[kj_mustang]

They make supposedly vandal proof dome cameras but it can still be spray painted if reachable. Hidden camera inside the overhang or a box made to look like part of the building may be your best bet. Small opening with clear cover, small camera.

 

[jblnut]

There are a lot of bird houses that have
predrilled holes so you can install a camera inside.

or other natural seasonal decorations that one would find on a front porch. Picked up several at local church rummage sales!

I have a camera in a bird house because I thought it would be neat. Until a damn bird moved in because I didn’t have the camera far enough forward

I used to see places that sold fake cameras. Some had small blinking LED light to make it look like they were actually working, and the more expensive ones appeared to track motion. The idea was to install a couple of real cameras (maybe hidden), but supplement them with enough fake cameras so that it appeared you had really had good coverage. While they were screwing around trying to disable the fake cameras, the real cameras were still uploading the footage of the bad guys to the cloud. YMMV

I have installed a few dozen fake cameras at businesses over the years. Always supplemented with a real camera in a more hidden location. A chunk of PVC pipe that looks like a furnace vent is a good place. Inside a window isn’t bad either if there isn’t too much glare. Down at ground level in a planter is another idea. Look up instead of down. Lots of creative ideas if you think about it.

 

[cgrutt]

Nothing is going to stop a determined vandal. Most dome or turret style cameras (I'm only familiar with hardwired style) are pretty resilient and usually have security features but my guess is a kid would just go after it with a prybar or hammer, bat, etc. They make different style cameras that are more secure but they are usually expensive. Many options to put a cage around it or other enclosure depending on how committed you are to securing it.

Some examples from Interwebz.

 

[zimman]

My cameras are $35 each. If someone knocks it off the wall I'm out $35 but I have his picture as he's/she
s doing it. It's recorded and sent to my phone in real time. That part cost $25 a year. It's a small price to pay right?
My other answer to this problem is move. Seriously.
Zim

 

[gahrajmahal]

I am very happy with our Ring security system. We have the doorbell cam and two floodlight cameras. We pay for the 24 hour monitoring system and use it when we go out of town. I’m constantly getting phone alerts when someone gets in range of the cameras and they have been captured on camera long before being close enough to the cameras and they to disable it. I don’t think it would be very difficult to disguise it if needed.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

"IF" you live in a neighborhood where you need "extreme protection" for your security camera I highly suggest moving.

TIP! Put some "Dog Warning" signs around the property and a pair of size 18 work boots at the front door..

This is what I have at my driveway entrance and it really works because a few delivery drivers refuse to get out of their truck…….. I have had some "big heavily tatted delivery guys" come up and they admit they are afraid of snakes.


BTW! I live in the woods and have a full video surveillance around the property along with some real and "dummy" cameras around the perimeter.………. Motion activated lights mounted on trees are spread out too.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My neighbor put a couple cameras in fake birdhouses mounted on poles, you wouldn't know unless you looked closely and saw sunlight reflecting off the camera lense inside the little hole on the front.

I'd think you could do something similar, just mount the fake birdhouse on the garage wall. Burglars will likely ignore it.

There's other ways to camouflage it. Put the camera inside a hanging flower basket, or make a box that's part of the mounting bracket for a light fixture. I'm sure there's other solutions if you think about it for a while.

 

[dcg9381]

No, not where I can still view the door with the camera.

I have the same issue. I take a "ingress" approach and have cameras up high, if you want to disable the camera facing the door, you can (it's low) but the cameras that cover ingress are going to get you. I do have "dummie" cameras up down by the shop, I make them obvious looking.




Probably more effective than "protected by [security service] even if you don't have a dog. But the UPS man may be a lot more careful..

 

[Codyboy]

"IF" you live in a neighborhood where you need "extreme protection" for your security camera I highly suggest moving

My other answer to this problem is move.

yep. Not worth it to have to look over your shoulder 24/7 or check under the bed for the boogeyman.

 

[BurtEggley]

a baseball bat is going to instantly end the life of any camera. So will a can of spray paint. If you use an SD card in it for local storage, the data will be gone if the camera is stolen. You will need a cloud subscription if you want the data to remain even if the camera is stolen or damaged beyond the SD card being available. Unless you want to be changing batteries all the time, the camera will need power going to it.

 

[WildBill]

I'd move.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

a baseball bat is going to instantly end the life of any camera.

not true for vandal rated cameras. lookup IK10 rating

 

[cgrutt]

not true for vandal rated cameras. lookup IK10 rating

Interesting. This company says its (or its competitors) ik10 rated security cameras will likely not survive direct attack from hammer or baseball bat. Ik10 is 20 joules five times baseball bat can deliver as much as 200 joules.

From link below:

IK10 means that it has survived a twenty joules impact repeated five times with no damage to function, in a lab, and under normal environmental settings. As a point of reference, a baseball bat swing from a professional MLB player, in a normal horizontal stance, with a wooden bat, causes about a 200 joules impact on the ball. A metal bat or metal hammer has the ability to transfer even more energy if the contact area is smaller.

IK10 Vandal Proof Dome Camera

A Vandal Proof Dome Camera have an IK10 rated protective glass shield that prevents damage from vandals.

www.getscw.com

 

[tearapin]

Thanks for all the ideas. I will try some of them.

 

[dcg9381]

If you use an SD card in it for local storage, the data will be gone if the camera is stolen. You will need a cloud subscription if you want the data to remain even if the camera is stolen or damaged beyond the SD card being available. Unless you want to be changing batteries all the time, the camera will need power going to it.

Or you can write it locally in real-time AND do a cloud backup if you are really concerned. But this is "how complex do you need it".




I had ring for a bit, batteries lasted pretty long time. The can be connected to door-bell transformers and there are solar options for "in the trees". I don't like the subscription fees.

 

[BurtEggley]

get a security camera monkey Sort of like the trunk monkey.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

get a security camera monkey Sort of like the trunk monkey.

Classics and these never get old!

 

[UserNameAttempt3]

Any determined criminal will do what they can... Paint, bat, gun... But most won't bother for the most part.

Just put it somewhere inconvenient for direct access.

 

[Wood Rat]

When I was designing camera systems, I would have 2 cameras separated so the view of 1 camera covered the other camera in the frame it was viewing and vice-versa both covered the main subject i.e. the door or the gate. the systems were for commercial buildings with high-risk clients.