Project: catch the theiving scrumpers!

Banzai_Joe · 14 Aug 2015 at 11:11

Hi all,
hope this is the right forum to post in.
I'm thinking of starting a little webcam surveillance project for our house.
We keep getting the local kids hopping into the garden to try and scrump our apples, despite me telling them off AND telling them the apples won't be ready til october.
So, thinking about putting cameras up but don't want to go crazy expensive.
I have a couple of Rasp Pi2's that i use for Kodi, but could easily use one for this project.
Maybe up to 4 cameras around the grounds (internally) that can record onto SD or NAS storage, possible motion detected too. Would explore external cameras too if they exist for Pi2 projects.
Ideally accessing webcams via IP (from work) would be what i'm looking for.

Anyone got any advise? Done similar. I've no experience with linux btw.

I know i could buy an ad-hoc kit from maplins etc, if its cheap enough then i'm open to suggestions.

Thanks.

ZXSpectrum · 14 Aug 2015 at 11:15

Might be cheaper just to stick up a load of PIR Activated Floodlights? I Really cant see anything happening to kids that are scrumping apples. The police probably wouldn't even consider attending.

Or get a couple of big dogs.. They wont come back after they chew on them for a bit..

Banzai_Joe · 14 Aug 2015 at 11:37

Lol, got 2 dogs. They'd lick them to death.
I'm only bothered that:
a) don't want them trespassing when i've told them to keep out,
b) if they get hurt, i don't want to be blamed as there are some dodgy rockery and slabs near the tree that could easily maim someone

But really none the above is a big issue, its just a bit of motivation to actually have a crack at setting a surveillance system up that won't cost the earth.

Kreeeee · 14 Aug 2015 at 11:50

Get some form of automated sprinkler system setup.

D3K · 14 Aug 2015 at 12:01

Eat curry for a week, then follow them home and poo in all their letterboxes.

zomby · 14 Aug 2015 at 12:06

The Rasp Pi would do the job with "MotionPie", if you have a spare webcam (or more) lying around.

It doesn't need any linux experience. you just install it to your SD card as you would with OpenElec or similar, then find the IP address of the MotionPie via your router, throw that IP address into your web-browser and bob's your uncle.

https://github.com/ccrisan/motionPie/wiki

I set mine up 3 weeks ago to monitor the back door (RaspPi and webcam in the shed pointing out the window). For the most part it works great but the motion detection is a bit iffy.

Banzai_Joe · 14 Aug 2015 at 12:07

Lol, all good suggestons, however this isn't GD, so some on-topic advice amidst the anticipated trolling would be appreciated.
Lets go for a ratio 2:1 trolling:serious. Sound ok to you?
Goody!

Banzai_Joe · 14 Aug 2015 at 12:08

zomby said:
The Rasp Pi would do the job with "MotionPie", if you have a spare webcam (or more) lying around.

It doesn't need any linux experience. you just install it to your SD card as you would with OpenElec or similar, then find the IP address of the MotionPie via your router, throw that IP address into your web-browser and bob's your uncle.

https://github.com/ccrisan/motionPie/wiki

I set mine up 3 weeks ago to monitor the back door (RaspPi and webcam in the shed pointing out the window). For the most part it works great but the motion detection is a bit iffy.

I installed openelec using the noobs SD card. Not sure how to install anything that isn't on noobs

randal · 14 Aug 2015 at 12:13

Well done GD, made it to the 5th post before suggesting something about a letterbox. The therapy seems to be helping.

Bart_Hunt · 14 Aug 2015 at 13:30

Wouldn't it be cheaper to take a shovel and dig some holes along the fence, then mask them?
I bet if one kid fell in and spend a night in the hole, he would never steal your apples again

(joking ofcourse)

ttaskmaster · 14 Aug 2015 at 14:00

TBH, I'd let them.
Scrumping for apples is a classic kid thing to do, almost a rite of passage... and if all they're doing is that, rather than getting doped up, nicking cars, smoking fags, or generally being complete ***** like most of the kids round here, then I think you're doing them, their parents and the community a massive favour by keeping them on a sensible path.

If you're set on destroying their childhood, then I'd think just the cheapy project box for Pi would be fine. It'd teach you a lot about the workings behind it at the same time.

Banzai_Joe · 14 Aug 2015 at 14:54

Lol, ok all lets forget the bit about kids scrumping grumpy Joe's apples.
Any other advise on how to monitor the property with multiple webcams accessible via IP.

edit: the kids are between 3-7 yrs old. I don't want them hurting themselves and me being sued. Some of the people round our end are like that.
Told them to their face "Do not come into our garden again, or i'll tell your parents"

ttaskmaster · 14 Aug 2015 at 15:30

There are also apps where you can hook up old mobile phones and use those.
That'd be very cheap...

oxygene · 14 Aug 2015 at 15:58

+1 for digging big holes. I think some kind of a 2 meter deep half meter wide pit around the inside of the fences.
People forget. Scrumping apples is a gateway high / rush. Next step is scrumping cars! Then dealing drugs. And once you're that crocked theres only place left for you to go. Government.

ZXSpectrum · 14 Aug 2015 at 16:26

I wonder if you can make a home make claymore out of a Raspberry Pi... .

Bart_Hunt · 14 Aug 2015 at 18:52

You don't have to.
You can just put some wire on top of the fence and connect it with a car battery.
Used comonly to guard cows from moving out of the area.
It won't kill anyone, I was electrocuted like that dozens of times - I am fishing often and sometimes have to trespass to get to the spot I really like.
I managed to touch oneof those wires by accident with tip of my carbon fishing rod, had all my hair stood up for a second

Besides that, experience was a bit unpleasant

randal · 14 Aug 2015 at 19:09

ZXSpectrum said:
I wonder if you can make a home make claymore out of a Raspberry Pi... .

GPIO is a wonderful thing.

zomby · 18 Aug 2015 at 14:44

Banzai_Joe said:
I installed openelec using the noobs SD card. Not sure how to install anything that isn't on noobs

Easy peasy...

Download the MotionPie image from here.
https://github.com/ccrisan/motionPie/releases

^Obviously you want the to get the correct "raspberry pi" version depending on which Pi you have.

Then if you're using windows.. follow these instructions:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/windows.md

Once you've written the MotionPie image to the SD card, just pop the sd card into your Pi and you just need to log in via the IP address of your Pi, which you'll find in your router admin pages.

Btw... you need to have a wired connection the first time you use MotionPie.. then you can log in to the admin page and setup your Wireless settings..

gradyhawks · 18 Aug 2015 at 15:11

Would it not be easier to replace a couple of apples with grenades? They pull them off the tree, pin goes, a few seconds later right before they go for a bite it explode?

Bart_Hunt · 18 Aug 2015 at 15:57

... together with a tree and a hole in the lawn.

Nah, to much cleaning afterwards.