WEST END ATLANTA

Here's another example of network camera technology's effectiveness in crime fighting:

www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/10/webcam.home.invasion/index.html

More complete footage here:



Last year I posted about using this same technology as a crime fighting tool (atlantawestend.com/myjoomla/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,97/func,view/id,568/catid,14/). Residents of Grant Park have used the technology to successfully apprehend burglars (). I successfully used the technology last year to close down a drug house on my street despite the indifference of Atlanta Police (atlantawestend.com/myjoomla/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,97/func,view/id,1052/catid,14/). Late last year, I gave a demo of the technology to a small group of residents at Carl Nes's house. Earlier this year, I was invited to speak about this technology at the Operation Neighborhood Takeback kickoff meeting hosted by Fulton County Prosecutor's Office and Atlanta Police's Zone 4. NPU-T executive committee attended this kickoff as part of their retreat. So far, there has been very little interest in the community regarding the use of this technology and I am not sure why.

After hearing reports at the last WEND meeting of phone line/power cutting, burglaries, illegal dumping, etc., I could not help but notice the repetitiveness of themes from last year. Essentially, the honest, hard-working residents have to leave their homes unattended for a good part of the day while they are out making a living. Security patrol is in the neighborhood for a fraction of the 24 hours during the day and cannot be present everywhere at all times. Crimes are committed and recommitted and the community is no better off at obtaining critical information for the apprehension of the criminals. There are no leads as to where these criminals come from, where they go and what they do when they are in our neighborhood. Even crimes such as the disappearance of huge, 52" plasma TVs during broad daylight are committed and leave the community without eyewitnesses or a shred of evidence that would be helpful towards apprehension of the criminals. Hopes of relying on our law enforcment "professionals" to solve our crime issue is like holding your breath without the ability to surface above water. From my experience fighting crime on my street, I now firmly believe that the police are indifferent to our plight and that for the issue to be resolve, the residents have to take action on their own. If I had followed the conventional approach that has been force fed to the residents (repeatedly calling 911 and reporting crimes observed) I would still have a drug house on my street today and would have at least three more vacant homes on my block due to disillusioned residents leaving or not wanting to move onto a street with an obvious drug problem. In light of the repeated failures to make progress in post-crime investigation, I am once again sharing my idea regarding the use of network camera technology as a crime fighting tool.

Last year, I posted on the forum to suggest the idea of creating a network of resident cameras. The vision was to have as many residents as possible point a network camera out of their front window at the street and then share the live footages from their camera with other residents in the community. If enough residents do this, it will create a live version of something similar to Google Map's street view feature. While the vision may seem to be unattainable due to the overwhelming amount of technological hurdles, the reality is that much of this is already provided for free by www.ourwatch.net, where residents can send images from their camera and share them with other residents. In addition, images are saved for three days and therefore allows for archival review. All this is available for the cost of $0. The only cost incurred by participants would be the one-time purchase of a network camera which ranges from $50 to $150 depending on whether you get the wired or wireless version. Internet access is a requirement but most people in the neighborhood already have that.

I am not a resident of the West End and am the secretary of neighboring Beecher Donnelly Community Association. I am also aspiring to be the crimefighting John Pavlin of my community. Despite this, I have not marketed this idea in my own neighborhood but have done so in West End because I believe West End lends itself to a very successful implementation. While I would love to implement this vision in Beecher Donnelly, the fact remains that the majority of the residents there are older and have no internet connectivity. West End has a large number of new or young residents who are comfortable and familiar with consumer technology. In fact, in a large portion of West End, I suspect there are multiple homes on one block which have internet access. All that's needed is for residents to see how the community can benefit from this vision and make the one time investment to purchase a camera.

To kickoff this vision, I will be hosting two cameras at properties I own in the West End. I have already started hosting a camera to provide a street view at Azalia Street. I will soon be hosting another on the 700 block of Peeples. I am actively recruiting residents in the vicinity to do the same. If you are interested in participating, please let me know so I can provide a knowledge transfer. If you are not in the vicinity but are interested in implementing this idea in your area and need some guidance, feel free to contact me as well. I have a pretty busy schedule but will do what I can to provide technical assistance. This idea when implemented is most effective when there is a large number of participants in a geographic vicinity. A lady from the 400 block of Lawton contacted me yesterday. She lives by West End Park and also experienced a recent episode of phone line cutting. She is very interested in starting a network of camera in her area. If you live in that area and would be interested in participating, please contact me and I will put you in touch with her.

Thank you,
Chen

cchang.mbox@gmail.com

You are so right. Thanks for this great reminder. I ordered mine today after a price comparison from cameras.pricegrabber.com/network-surveillance/Panasonic-BLC1A-HOME-NETWORK-CAMERA/m17631119.html

I chose Consumer Depot for $68.97 incl free shipping.

I think I put it off so long because of technology reluctance and because I have continued to add other security precautions to my home base. I encourage everyone to intensify their efforts because as you state, the police are all but off the job. They are demoralized beyond effective interest, the police system in Atlanta is fully broken and each of us must decide for oneself what level of precaution to take. The camera at least helps get more "eye time" on the the street or your house.

Like I said, thanks Chen for the reminder, and I encourage others to continue to take new steps. Let me identify a few other steps to take.

1. If you have a wired alarm system, add a wireless back up for about $10/per month. When the street terroists go to cut your alarm system it will still dial the monitor station from the wireless. (WEND special: Scott at American Alarm (770) 645-0061, scott@americanalarm.net. Mention WEND for $5 off the mo. fee bringing to $14.95 base for wired phone plus the $10 for wireless backup and some installation fee for the modem.)

2. When you add the wireless, have the technician add a "line sensor" to your phone lines and connect it into your alarm panel. This will activate you alarm siren the minute the lines are cut rather tham when they enter and set off motion detectors. This is added deterrence where you want it....before they get in.

3. The street terroists have been been known to throw your master electric breaker to the off poistion, cutting all power to your dwelling. To avoid this go to Ace or HD and buy a small keyed padlock (the little brass ones are fine) and secure the shut off box located outside your house near your electric meter.

4. If you're not already armed, do it and take some firearms training.

5. If your door opens inward it is great practice for the beginning karate kick. even if you have the best deadbolt made, the door jamb will shatter and the door will fly open. Some solutions are adding a security door that opens outward. The Larsen Security door is clear vitually unbreakeable glass. Get it at Lowes on Moreland and tell them you want the 10% off that WEND negotiated last year, about $300 less 10%. You will need installation unless you're handy.

6. Motion detector lights: add them on the exterior approaches to your house.

7. Wood privacy fence for the back yard.

Good luck guys stay safe. And lets all link up with cameras. Wouldn't it be great to get a good facial photo of one of these terroists and plaster it all over West End!

Just picked up a couple cameras off of amazon for cheap (Trendnet TV-IP110W), so they should be on ourwatch.net within a week or so (whenever amazon supersaver arrives). Thanks for all of the info. Also, don't know if this is of interest to anyone else, but it should be pretty easy to mod any of these cheap webcams to adapt for night vision by changing one of the filters and adding a $1 infrared led to the setup. I'm going to try and see if I can save a bunch of money instead of buying the night-vision version up front.

www.hoagieshouse.com/IR/

I have not tried the TrendNet cameras. I've been using the Panasonic BL-C1A and BL-C20A. Definitely interested in seeing the footage from your cameras once you get them setup so I can compare picture quality.

Panasonic just released newer models of the BL-C1A and BL-C20A. The new models are BL-C101A and BL-C121A. I am planning on getting a BL-C121A to benefit from the new features. Most notable are the increased frame rate, MPEG4 support, one-way audo, and increased viewing angle. With the new model I will be able to view live feeds off the camera on my Blackberry. I will also be able to see AND hear remotely.

Y-Cam (www.y-cam.com/index.php) appears to sell camera from the same manufacturer as Panasonic. Given that they just released an IR-capable model, I expect Panasonic to as welll later this year.

Chen

Chen,

When I when to the website you listed. My computer told me it had a virus and foxfire closed down.

I guess I will just get the old camera