boatyard / club cctv systems

[Birdseye]

our club is considering installing a cctv system in our boat yard. We dont have a serious security problem anyway, and I'm wondering how effective the system is likely to be in dealing with what problem there is.So I would appreciate some feedback from others with experience of these systems.

how extensive is your system?

do they deter? has theft gone down since you installed the system? or have they nicked / damaged the system instead?

if theft has still occurred, have you in practise gained any useful info from the cctv, or just pictures of shadows?

if you had a theft and you got a useful image, were plod interested, or was it just another low priority theft case? was the piccy any use to them? could it be used in court?

did you find the system lapsed into disuse like the many on our streets

 

[charon]

CCTV is all very well if it is monitored and picture quality is good. A yard I know of had problems with theft and trespass untill they installed floodlamps on tall poles triggered by discretly positioned movement sensors. No problem after that.

 

[chuckaduck]

CCTV does work as a deterrent and the police are becoming more proactive in using cctv footage usually they will know the culprits and will pay them a visit this doesnt mean a conviction will result but is a step in the right direction

the current generation of cameras give good images and use digital recording technology for the images which is fully automatic and low maintenance

Pm me and we can talk as I work with cctv systems and can give you useful advice

 

[savageseadog]

I've been looking into various cctv arrangements (not for club)
main problem is monitoring it and managing recordings and schedules. No point having cctv and not looking at it or recording it.

Main issues that I have encountered are listed below:

Coverage.............More cameras = more data. Wider angle lenses = less cameras but less resolving power

Lighting..................do you want to view at night? If covert then IR

Sunlight ..............into lenses is a major problem.

Covert/overt...............if overt will thieves merely cover up, if covert hiding cameras equipment is difficult

Cabling....................... generally difficult outside to make safe/secure

Monitoring............who views or looks after the system and manages recordings.

PC/DVR/Tape recording...............advantages and disadvantages to both.

Security..........No use having recording equipment on site if the thieves destroy it (or stel it!).

Analogue video/IP video technology..............pretty sure IP is going to be the way to go.

Remote monitoring..................Much easier with IP servers/cams, will need a broadband connection.

Power failure..............will the system reinitialise automatically? can a standby power system be provided

Bad weather...........causes all kind of problems

Outdoor cameras............difficult to eliminate problems with heat/cold/rain/insects/dirt

Intruder/event monitoring............How to without triggering by animals/weather

Sound ...............can be as useful as video so try to record that as well

 

[jonathankent]

This might all be useful in trying to combat crime, but with video & sound its getting like big brother.... you wouldn't have any privacy. Belive me, I would be in favour of it to help prevent theft/vandalism, but just maybe not to go too far, if you get my drift.

Out of interest, would this make any difference to insurers?

 

[hannahman]

I work a cctv system, and it's proved absolutley invaluable in helping to prevent crime, and in helping to catch and prosecute perpetrators where I work.
The system I operate is certainly 'not cheap', so I guess it depends what the budget is of your club, but any system is better than nothing. Even 'dummy' cameras are a deterrant, so even if you start with just one 'real' camera, it's worth adding one or two 'dummies' around the site.

Doug

 

[DanTribe]

It may be stating the obvious but make sure the camera is well protected.
I was involved in installing CCTV on 3 building sites a while ago. The cameras were all nicked within a few days. Nothing showed on the recorder except some shaking as the thieves climbed the posts.

 

[Piddy]

The Sailing Club I belong to has installed a system that cost well in excess of £15K with real and dummy cameras sprinkled around the boat and car park.
It has been up and running for 18 months or so and in that time we have had the worst break-ins ever and to date nothing in the way of prosecutions has happened.
It has proved useful in identifying members that don't lock the gates and those that drive through the dinghy park against the rules!
The cost of maintaining the system wasn't mentioned when the cost was agreed at AGM particularly as we now adhere strictly to current H & S rules and have to hire a cherry picker every time a camera needs cleaning or changing.
IMHO it has just been a way of spending a lot of money so as to be seen to be doing something rather than nothing.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Yes - I have first hand experience with CCTV. At 04:00 on the 15th July, my boat was untied from its mooring and cast adrift. I was asleep on board at the time! I woke up to find myself butted up against another club members boat half way down the chanel, and thankfully not out in the middle of the Irish Sea!

Our CCTV captured the film images of the perpetrator and helped identify him as a local. The video clips were handed to the police and investigations are currntly underway.

Fit the best that your club can afford and take advice from a security firm. If you don't know a good firm, I can put you onto one - the same firm that fitted ours. PM me if you need more details.