Surveillance - on a budget

daska

We have a nightly trespasser (between midnight and 7am) in the garden of our rented ground floor flat - nothing 'nasty', they're throwing bread on the lawn, but it's a pain to deal with as I'm disabled, DH is ill and we have a toddler who is always happy to eat. It's been going on for about 2 months now and we're completely fed up with it.

The garden is never completely dark as there is a lamp-post just outside the gate, it's about 30' long and we can get an 'ok' view of the front gate/path from one window (but not a good view of the back gate and side wall from any the windows due to the layout).

Can anyone suggest a cheap solution to getting a snap of our visitor - we think we know who it is but we need evidence - we have an exceedingly limited income at the moment.

I have PC (XP) and Mac (OSX) and we're happy to move them into the 'room with a view' for a while. We also have a few digital cameras (ixus 400, ixus 860 and the kids have fuji and a nikon ones I think)

DatabaseError

can't you just fit a £1 bike lock around the gate?

madrhino

Why don't you get a security light which comes on everytime someone enters your garden.
You may not catch who is doing it, but it should stop them.

posted_2

Maybe they are feeding the birds? Unless the lighting is really good, you'll have trouble getting a good picture from a standard camera attached to a pc.

macman

Agree with madrhino, security light or add security sensor to an existing light if available.
But as DBError sugests, why not just make the access properly secure? Your visitor may be a harmless eccentric, but others might have more theft-related intentions.

jenniewb

Just wondered what the police say? the council could also help you out here by actually sorting something out in the way of cameras if its a repeat offender and you are disabled and unable to get out to get the idiots away.

Awec

You can get surveillance sets off maplin.co.uk, if they are any use to you.

daska

I'd love to padlock it but it's the front garden. We tried tying the gate shut and the bread got thrown over the fence - it's about 7' high - the first time and the person came round the back the second time. Its always between midnight and 7am so I don't think it's someone feeding the birds...

I looked at Maplin but I can't work out what I'd need - and getting to a store is a day trip in itself.

I found this system, which I guess we could just about afford at a pinch, does it look any good?

The police aren't overly interested because it's not serious enough - not exactly up there with breaking and entering. I'll try the council though, environmental health might be the way to go!

tomsutton529

as someone that knows a little about security and have helped a few people out in the past i can certainly say dont bother with a security light, it only helps the "person" do what they want to do. A camera would be a good solution, i have used webcams in the past but you realy need one with night vision. if you only need to capture the person once and get a good snap then why dont you find someone to get up early (or stop up late) and get a snap of them. they could sit in a car at the front and get them as they leave.

or put a sign in the middle of the lawn that says you have turned it into a mine field.

DatabaseError

you're prepared to spend £1500 to stop someone feeding the birds?!
Why not spend a tenner on a dummy camera and a warning sign?

hethmar

Im sorry but it seems like you are using a sledge hammer to crack a nut here. They probably have no idea its upsetting you. If you know when they are there, you say its nightly? then why not keep an eye out and then go and have a quiet word with them?

They are probably just feeding the birds. I cant see why its such a big problem.