Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - I could really use some help please

First Hi ,Im new to DIY Forum ,wonderful stuff ,I did try to find the answer but I probably didnt look in the right place


A sick friend I visit 3 -4 days a week , feels like some one has been in her apt .Shes Bed ridden at this point but her mind is intact

I would like to get a camera ,a vcr ?dvr ? and be able to tape ? the apt entrance ,She doesnt have a lot of cash but to put her mind to rest and mine

How could I do it??
least expensive
least visible
easy set up
need at least 48 hrs
I went to websites that offer equpiment but I couldnt firgure out what went with what --lol

Any suggestions would be helpful

Thank you so much

First of all there are several less expensive solutions. I think the idea here is to keep the person from entering rather than recording him no? First thing I would do is change the door locks. If you *think* someone is entering then it sounds like it isn't forced entry as you would know for sure in that case. After changing the locks go and get a cheap door alarm and hook it up for her. Make sure all doors and windows are locked.

Dave

I do thank you, but I have already done that, cost 150.00 via the building rental office ,She thinks it may be a building mainteince technician ,she has great collection of old antique items on display ,The building because of her being ill also has the code for alarm and keys ,I hate to approach the building office without evidence at least .I also wonder if mabye she is getting sicker and is hallucinating ,I doubt it faucilities seem intact

I just thought there was a simple way to accomplish this ,taping the entrance to see who comes ,if anyone but I go every second day and there are no relatives

Thank anyway

change the locks and don't give the bldg a key

I went through this with a apartment , I was lining in CA at the time and was advised to send the owner a certified letter stating I would be responsible for any damage caused by the need to break in a VERIFIABLE EMERGENCY situation

they raised a little stink , I held my ground and thats the way it way until I moved

It really sounds like this is more of a sort of social issue than anything else. There are a lot of solutions for this type of surveillance; the main issue is how much money and labor you are willing to invest.

Something as simple as a webcam might serve your purpose, as there are a ton of freeware, shareware, and commercial applications that allow you to record the images to your hard drive, as well as allowing her to be able to simply look from her bedside at the computer screen and see the area in question.

Being bedridden and presumably medicated/in pain, is more than enough to make even a self-confident person aware and suspicious of every bump, thump and sound in a dwelling.

I was looking for equpiment suggestions ,So I can purcahse a monitor ,a dvr or vcr ,and she can watch and I can also record ,this is what I was looking for ,200.00 at most is reasonable,
if someone is going in helping themselves (i dont know ) it needs to be stopped ,if nothing is wrong ,fine ,I can deal with the paranoia ,which is common ,Its heart wrenching no to be able to trust what a friend and mentor of many years is telling you


Are there systems one can buy or do I need to buy this stuff seperately

do I use wireless or ?

What about a baby monitoring system? Except, it could be a door monitor.

See: http://www.amazon.com/MobiCam-70001-Wireless-Monitoring-System/dp/B000246T54

You can get ahold of a security dealer and they will alot of times set up surveylance for you and you wont have to purchase the equipment. A decent time lapse vcr will cost over $200 bucks.

Perfect ,thats the solution the nannie monitors was good ,but I got a company to install the equpiment needed ,basic ,for a 6 month contract for 19.00a month and 29.99 amin charge ,They showed me how to use it and now we all feel better ,I rea;lize the money is gone with no equiment to show for it but the return on selling the nani monitor set up (170.00) would have been small and a hassle .The goal was something quick not too costly and easy to use
The company used the exact thing you described Baby monitor set up !!

So if I could have used the equipment for something else it would have been the solution but the very basic monitor set from the company is fine

Thank you all