Comments on: West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen blue Camry; 2 car prowls

By: Carter Maslan

Carter Maslan — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 06:12:29 +0000

@wsn00b – our neighborhood uses camiolog.com – it’s bandwidth-efficient and works with many cameras/dvrs. I work on the product, so I’m happy to send you more info if you’d like.

By: BlairJ

BlairJ — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:42:29 +0000

I am looking into the Apex Solar LED Security Light/Camera Kit with DVR. It sends pictures wirelessly to the DVR when it detects motion. Several units can send to one DVR. No concern about bandwith, but apparently no online connectivity either.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:59:26 +0000

Oh and according to the guy who towed the car, he said the police were still there when he arrived and said they had “caught the bad guy.” So we’re assuming the thief was caught.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:56:07 +0000

Just though I’d give an update on the stolen car. They located it this morning on 112th ave in white center. They took one plate and left the other one with tabs in the trunk.. Other than that nothing was taken. Found a syringe inside though. But the good news is that it was found and still has gas and can run.

By: West Seattle Hipster

West Seattle Hipster — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:30:18 +0000

Perhaps it’s time for emphasis patrols by the local precinct?

By: rockergirl5678

rockergirl5678 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:16:26 +0000

Several of my neighbors cars were vandalized and broken into last night – windows broken on 3 cars and one with doors unlocked was ransacked on SW Webster between 30th and 31st SW. Not cool!

By: WS rats in a cage

WS rats in a cage — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:36:37 +0000

People who “prowl” cars are the scum of the earth!

By: scott

scott — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:29:14 +0000

I live on 49th ave near Spokane St. and also had my car ransacked recently. Noticed it Sunday morning but I don’t drive it daily so who knows when it happened. They got a Go Pro video camera (used for action sports)that I studiply left in the glovebox.
Usually pretty safe around here but stuff happens I guess.

By: camera user

camera user — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:26:46 +0000

@wsn00b: Agree that a local dvr solution would be a nice option (unless someone takes the drive). But it’s also nice that dropcam offers the dvr service. For me 2 cameras -one in the front of the house, and one in the backyard covers most of my needs. And allows plenty of bandwidth for movies etc. Not sure if Comcast ever checks uploads that are close to 250 btw… So maybe just have 1 or 2 recording?

Just last week while at work I was alerted to movement in my driveway, a red pickup truck backed in and I was able to monitor it. It was just turning around, but still felt good that I could have reported it to the police within a minute if necessary.

By: DbCoop

DbCoop — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:02:50 +0000

re: dropcam. just buy a $3 sign that says smile you’re on closed circuit camera. If every block had them that would deter break ins as much as having the camera itself.

By: wsn00b

wsn00b — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:24:46 +0000

@camera user: I got excited about dropcam (few posts about it on WSB) but then realized that each camera will eat up approx 60GB of upload per month. Last I checked, I have a 250GB data cap and I really want to minimize interacting with Comcast “customer service”. A reasonable dropcam deployment of 3-4 cameras would eat up most of my bandwidth! Dropcam needs to do local DVR of full video and only send motion events to the cloud to be useful. Still looking for a better option. Will see what suggestions the blockwatch captain meeting turns up.

By: Junction mom

Junction mom — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:17:20 +0000

That report from Seaview sounds like my experience. We live right behind Rite Aid and I know for a fact that if I leave my doors unlocked, especially if the car is parked on the street, and sometimes in the front driveway, that it will be gone through. ‘Fortunately’ they have only taken things of monetary value, which I don’t leave anymore, not my kids books or old CDs and they’ve never broken a window. I might have to try that camera.

By: camera user

camera user — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:59:11 +0000

Dropcams are great -if you haven’t looked into them yet. Wireless, 720P video monitoring -even has 2 way audio.

They sell for $150 online and they offer a DVR service which stores video for you. Also included is a motion sensor that sends Txt messages to your cell phone.

If one or two people had them installed on each block I think some thieves would start to think twice. Obviously won’t deter everyone.

I have one pointed at my car in the Admiral district.

By: G

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:28:06 +0000

Wecome to “Fortress West Seattle.”

By: G

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:25:51 +0000

Car prowls are commonplace in WS now. My car has been ransacked THREE times in the last few years.