The Flintstones Method of Surveillance

October 6, 2007 8:13 AM

My parents believe the superintendent is stealing supplies from an apartment they own and are renovating. How do they set up a motion activated camera when there is no internet, no VCR or DVR and leaving a laptop there is unsafe?

My parents own an apartment that is in between tenants right now. They are taking the opportunity to do some minor renovations: installing new windows, fixtures, etc. The work is only done on Saturdays and Sundays because it's my dad and his friend. The only people who have the key (locks were changed after last tenant) are my dad and the super. He's starting to notice stuff going missing every week. The most recent being two of the smaller window panes. He wants to set up a camera to take pictures or, if possible with the restrictions, video.

I was reading over the similar threads and they all are connected to their home or business where they have access to computers and larger equipment. This apartment does not have internet or phone set up. If he puts an old laptop or other equipment there, he fears it's going to get stolen as well. I'm pretty sure he can hide a camera amongst empty boxes. Is there a camera that is motion activated that can take pictures while saving it to a memory stick or USB key that can be retrieved later?

posted by spec80 to Technology (6 answers total)

Best answer: You cannot set up a surveillance system with no on site recording device for less than a couple grand, they have WiFi enabled cameras readily available online, but, this also may be illegal without the tenants and/or the superintendents knowledge. The whole idea seems like a pretty bad one, why not just go with the tried and true method of leaving $50 out (or a whole bunch of whatever you think he's stealing) and, well, see if he's stealing. That way it costs you $50, not the $3000 to purchase and set up a wireless surveillance system.
posted by nintendo at 8:23 AM on October 6, 2007

Best answer: Can your parents change the locks until the renovations are complete and the unit is rented again?
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 8:25 AM on October 6, 2007

get a "game camera"...they're motion activated cameras hunters use to capture photos of deer and other large animals. usually pretty cheap too...less than $200, and they usually have date/time stamps.

Here's place to start
http://www.nextag.com/game-hunting-camera/search-html
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:43 AM on October 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

I think just about any web cam software has motion activation built into it. If not, I think even the demo of SupervisionCam is usable.
posted by whatisish at 9:34 AM on October 6, 2007

You may also want to entertain the possibility that someone without a key is getting in. The internet has made knowledge of lock picking and bumping fairly common. If the potential person knows there's no-one living there, and that there's a good chance of things being in there such as tools, it may be a tempting target.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 1:18 PM on October 6, 2007

Here you go:
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/stealthcamera-builtinrecorder.html
(by googling "sd card hidden camera")
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:43 PM on October 6, 2007