DVR Vault

[Earl Weiss]

So, the burglars grabbed the DVR.

Must not have known they would get to it because the cameras had been pushed up toward the ceiling.

Suggestions for a DVR vault? Found some on the net. They don't look that great.

 

[MEP001]

Maybe an old changer housing bolted to the wall?

The only "vaults" I've seen for surveillance systems are meant more to keep employees out than to prevent the theft of the recorder. If I were truly concerned about that sort of thing I'd hide a remote hard drive for the recorded data.

 

[Buzzie8]

I saw a laundromat do that once. He had a dummy DVR under his monitor and then ran the cables to the real DVR in another room. Not sure if it would fool a sophisticated burglar but it would make it them a bit confused.

 

[Sequoia]

Vault

Why do a vault?

You can add an IP dome camera with on-board SD card storage that loops back around. So when the DVR gets stolen, the IP dome camera has a nice high resolution recording of exactly what happened. It would be completely separate from your CCTV system and you only need 1 in the equipment room.

 

[jprb]

We use a truck tool box. The type that mounts under a flat bed type truck bed. They have key locks and are heavy guage steel or aluminum. An extra heavy lock on the outside would make it very secure.

 

[Waxman]

There's a place near my wash that sells all types of stuff from business buyouts. I got some great steel locking (w/locks and keys) cabinets, 4 for $75.

I'd try a place like that or Craigslist for the right locking cabinet. Plus there are probably a few other things you want to lock in there, too.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Why do a vault?

You can add an IP dome camera with on-board SD card storage that loops back around. So when the DVR gets stolen, the IP dome camera has a nice high resolution recording of exactly what happened. It would be completely separate from your CCTV system and you only need 1 in the equipment room.

Color me clueless. Can you point me to one on a website?

 

[JMMUSTANG]

Earl I'm not sure but how about an online backuo company such as Carbinite.com.
There are others that do the same thing. They backup all your work automatically but I'm not sure they can backup video.
It might be worth checking into.

 

[dcarwash]

Vault

We all have an old inop VCR or DVD around. Put it under the monitor as a decoy and hide the real DVR. Plug the power cord in so the red light is on. Most crooks won't notice since the alarm is blaring and they are in a hurry

 

[Earl Weiss]

Earl I'm not sure but how about an online backuo company such as Carbinite.com.
There are others that do the same thing. They backup all your work automatically but I'm not sure they can backup video.
It might be worth checking into.

This would require an internet connection which i do not have at 3 of 4 places.

 

[soapy]

I would go to a local metal fabricator and have them make me one. Bolt it to the wall or floor with a good lock on the door.

 

[pitzerwm]

Besure and add a muffin fan to keep it cool

 

[Kevin Reilly]

I would go to a local metal fabricator and have them make me one. Bolt it to the wall or floor with a good lock on the door.

Scott I just got through replacing our old systems with new security systems in our 5 units and warehouse. I also bought 5 safes from e-bay, large enough to put everything inside @ each location. Also bought 2 APC 750va battery backups for them. We have already had some cameras stolen after shutting off the power (which we fixed so they can't get to it). The safe's were initially made for dropping money in through a pull out hinged drop. We welded that shut, cut some 4" tubing with a bottom plate to lag to the floor and welded the 4" tubing to another plate that the safe sits on so the safes are up high enough to view sitting on a chair. Pretty overkill for a carwash, but as you know our locations are in a rough neighborhood. Haven't put the safes in yet as we just finished them.

The APC backups were an afterthought after they turned off the power @ 2 locations and they work fine. The DVR keeps working with the power off. Don't know for how long but I know it will last for at least 15 minutes because we tested it. As Bill suggested we will need fans for the DVR's when they're placed in the safe's

With this economy the way that it is nothing is safe so you fight the battle.

 

[soapy]

Kevin, Good call on the APC backups. Be aware that after a few years the batteries on them go bad and they start working off and on. I have them at some locations and it took a while to figure out why my camara system would shut down for no apparent reason.

 

[mac]

Have any of you used an external hard drive? Some DVRs can have them and some don't, but it seems that would be an option.

 

[JustClean]

I put up a sign in my office:
Dear burglar, sorry but the video footage of you has already left this carwash.
And with a wireless harddisk in the attic you'll still have the video.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I put up a sign in my office:
Dear burglar, sorry but the video footage of you has already left this carwash.
And with a wireless harddisk in the attic you'll still have the video.

Where do I get the wireless hard disk?

 

[JustClean]

Where do I get the wireless hard disk?

My son bought one locally for himself but Ebay has them (2TB about $250). Cheers Justclean.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I put up a sign in my office:
Dear burglar, sorry but the video footage of you has already left this carwash.
And with a wireless harddisk in the attic you'll still have the video.

Checked out the wireless hard disk. Do you have it for a securit camera DVR? Seems like it's set up for a computer wih wireless capability and will not work with my DVR or most others for the following reasons.

DVR's use Linux and theese seem set up for Windows or Apple systems.

DVR's are not sert to transmit Data like wirleless computers

DVR does not transmit to any backup device unless I tell it to.

If all the above were overcome Wireless Hard drive would need to "recycle" after filling up or I would always have to monitor whether space needed to be freed up.

 

[JustClean]

Hi Earl,
I think there is a misunderstanding: Myself, I don't have a wireless harddisk at my carwash. My son has one at home. I only suggested this as this seems to work nicely with his setup. I use a windows based DVR card from Geovision and looking at my sons setup I can't really see why it should not work with my DVR. Actually, if you are interested I can get him to give it a try and see if it works. (But this has to be after he finishes his exams next week).