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At some point I intend to buy a renovation/new build project and the one plot I'm looking at is rather remote and I won't be able to move onto site straight away. so I was considering installing some sort of CCTV system that would allow me either Internet or mobile phone access and some sort of alert message if and when triggered!
It depends how sophisticated you want to go but you will need a secure electrical supply for starters and a broadband link. But a well organised gang of thieves will have a simple GSM blocker which can cripple a mobile broadband connection so you really need a wired BB. Some sort of uninterruptable power supply as well in case they cut the power. It all starts to become a bit expensive.
After that something like a foscam can be set up to email you automatically if it senses changes in it's viewing area but you will get many false positives due to clouds etc.
Whilst there is plenty of tech to put in place to do the job, there is also plenty of cheap tech available to thieves to easily defeat it.
So the best solution is to not leave any valuables on a remote site, that may involve you buying an old van to use as a mobile tool chest.
Experience of using CCTV on both remote sites and city sites is that the presence of a camera with a little green light does work in putting people off "coming to have a look". Thieves tend to carry out a recce first and then choose a time to load up the stuff they want to steal. So if you record what is happening on your site and take a look at the movement every 24 hours or so you can at least be warned of a possible happening before it occurs. You will need power but only broadband if you want an alarm call.
There is power to site and a phone cable so broadband should be available.
I had in mind something simple, maybe no more than 4 camaras should cover the site access and the main plot and the back wall (opens onto a wooded area). The system should be a deterant to casual 'lookers and takers' and I like the idea of recording to a hard drive, just in case someone steals something, so I could then provide images to the Police etc.
The old van for the tools idea also appeals to me.
If you take a look on ebay you will find various kit available, just be aware that the resolution of many ip cameras is pretty poor and with the low res ones you will not be able to make out number plates or faces so you need to look for hi-res cameras, you are probably looking at a little over £100 a pop.
I did see some good quality 2nd hand stuff on there a few weeks back so have a dig around a bit.
You are probably better off recording to the cloud or have the DVR at home and record over the net to it, they can't steal the evidence then.
You can even get a talk back system with an outdoor speaker so if you see some activity you can talk to them over the net and warn them that you have their reg number and the police are on the way.
A few security floodlights on sensors would go a long way too.
I have some limited knowledge and have used CCTV cameras in the past on some turbine sites. They do not work very well in my opinion as hoods etc make then useless, just as tape on a number plate does. We have had guys approach cameras and just turn them away from the action. Have you considered a large hungry dog with a small camcorder attached to its collar! It would be a much greater deterant in my opinion, Gusty.
With so many other little projects on the go, I never got round to installing a security system, but tyre marks on the drive during a period when I was way from site and an increase in rural crime, has spured my into action!
I've looked at stuff on Ebay and the like, and much of it records to a hard drive to be viewed later, ideally I want a system that sends am email or text message to say the system has been activated and the ability to log on and view images on my smart phone/tablet/PC. The ability to view the action remotley is important as we have all sorts of wildlife visiting the garden which may activate the system and I don't want too many false alarms!!
Borphin is right, a simple fence and a flock of geese. I read some years ago about a whisky plant in Scotland that was always being broken into by professional thieves, they surrounded it with two fences and put a flock of geese between them, they were never broken into again. Plus you can sell the eggs and all the family will have a slap up dinner after the project is finished.
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