Reptile security discussion

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:54 am Post subject:

The majority of people I know with valuable collections have fairly sophisticated security systems, If your animals are valuable spend some money on security, there's an amazing array of devices available, they're inexpensive and easy enough to install yourself.... it could prevent the loss of your animals!

Shane

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:23 am Post subject:

The best security system is the concealed type that only the owner knows about.. Seriously though, how many herpers have decent security? How many people have simple window locks fitted to the house? How many people have a movement detector in the herp room connected to a simple alarm? (cost from around $50 up) I havn't seen too many half decent setups around in my time and when I have the owner usually liked to brag about all of it's features to anybody who wanted to listen.

The best system I've had (i'm a bit of an electronics nut) was a 6 camera setup with IR lighting, multiple PIR's connected to a quality commercial alarm with remote montioring which could be viewed from any tv/computer in the house (6 bedroom at the time) or remotely over the net and also send a message to multi phone numbers for predefined events, a couple of well positioned pressure mats and the odd panic button.. I could even control all of this from the comfort of my bed Smile

I also had a secondary hidden camera system consisting of 4 keyhole cameras (I was pretty parranoid back then), I told nobody about this second system but had warning stickers all over the place with outdoor cameras well positioned and obvious (i've been a big Jaycar fan for years). A person couldnt walk or drive past my house without the event being recorded. I had a lot of animals back then (a joint collection with a good friend), the system cost a bit but I had a lot of fun installing it, I also slept very well at night.

Nowdays I have a simple system (more of a hobby) because I only have a small/average collection... but i've made damn sure the house isn't easy to break into without making lots of noise..

It's also important to make the effort to get along with your neighbours where possible, you don't need to tell them they're valuable, I always tell people they're like family to me.. it's nice to have people keep an eye on the place for anything out of the ordinary.

I'ts sad that Marc's had his animals knocked of by some lowlife.. would be harder sleeping through it all and possibly knowing who it is. It sounds to me that the thief/thieves knew exactly what they were after and how to go about it.

Shane

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:48 pm Post subject:

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:45 am Post subject:

If you try and jump my back fence then you are just asking for trouble because if by the slim change you make it over without hurting yourself on the actual fence then you need to try and make it past my Husky x kelpie to my back door.

I have a neighbour who will sus out any trouble in my yard when they hear my dog going off and also have 2 neighbours who will do the same for the front of my house.

Oh yeah and there is someone home at least 98% of the time and my house is hard enough to find even if you have the address Very Happy

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:52 am Post subject:

Seems this type of thing is starting to occur even more then before, which is such a dark cloud on this hobby.

I work in CCTV for probably the biggest supplier in Australia, Hills Industries. I have seen small systems to massive multi-million dollar systems, like crown casino for example.

No matter what you install it won't keep out the determined thief, but it goes a long way to stopping the thief who is thinking about it.

My security is a bit like shanes from the early day, covers every square inch. it also gives me a call on the mobile if the hidden sensors are broken, which makes things a little more comfortable.

my recommendation is to install, even the most simple system. If people see cameras in plain view it makes them think twice. This also works for other thiefs, i.e the ones who are just after your T.V.

jaycar offers cheap systems.

my company, although i am not trying to plug them offers a system for $1750 which is a 4 channel digital recorder 15' monitor and four cameras. it isn't the best system, but hopefully helps to give a ball park figure on price.

there are also cheaper systems then the one above, so shop around for the price that suits you.

dummy cameras are also a good idea if you can afford. but with most dummys it is obivous once you walk up to it that it is a dummy, so what you do is cut a bit of garden hose and stick it in the camera. it makes it look like the camera has a pcb lens which is what most theifs look for. According to guys in the field this has worked a treat.

another idea is teh simple house alarm, again these can also be dummys, if you can't afford.

i know direct alarm supplies, a sister company of the one i work for has alarms starting between 45-75 dollars, which isn't much. obivously you would need to install this yourself, or have someone else install it.

anyway i will stop now, but if people want to know more about alarms and cameras i can let you know.

cheers

SW

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 2:30 am Post subject:

I split this topic away from one of the theft ones, in the hope to get some discussion going about what security people use or would use for their reptile collections. As we all know by now, it's no longer 'bizzare' to have your reptiles stolen and people have now gone as far as armed robbery.

There were some great ideas in this thread, and I was hoping to add to it.

I think our best detterant here are our two large guard dogs that are in the house most of the time. We also don't give out our address, have a silent number and have a PO Box we use for our mail. We usually meet buyers or sellers at a neutral place also, maccas carpark is a favourite Razz

. We have done that for a long time, been called paranoid in the past, but don't regret it.

I'd like to add, we don't have high end animals at all like greens or albinos, and certainly don't plan on getting them anymore. In the past, greens were tempting, but what do you have against a man with a gun?