billgates

Security cameras are dirt cheap these days and wireless IP cameras dead easy to install.
Most have motion sensors and night vision and will even email images when movement is detected.
To prevent potential thieves from sneaking up and cutting camera wires just make sure your cameras overlook each other.
A UPS will get around a thief opening your electric box and cutting all power to the house.
Set up a proper recording device or even just an old laptop and a big USB drive, hide it away somewhere and you've got a permenent record of the break in.
Not only are cameras a visible deterrent but if someone does manage to break in and run off with your stuff chances are you will have an email of the thief or a number plate to show the Guardia. More than likely any potential thief will assess the risk as too high and move on to your neighbour, then it's their problem not yours.

Moses2013

If somebody wants to break in, they'll break in. Of course a camera might scare an amateur, but not the professionals. You are also not allowed to film anything outside the boundaries of your property, so the chances of getting a number plate are also minimal.

Dick Dasterdly

IMO there are two main categories of house burglars.

A, Opportunists,
basically dishonest individuals who during their every day life are always ready at a moments notice to take advantage of obviously slack security and easy pickings with little risk.

B, Professionals
Who carefully plan ahead, study security arrangements, degree of risk, and likely rewards, before deciding if the end justifies the means.

Professionals tend to take precautions to avoid themselves being recognised on camera and also avoid leaving behind forensic evidence.
The standard alarm systems don't concern them much even if they can't disable them.
They know they have sufficient time to do the job and get clear, even if the system is connected to the police station or to the the owner supping his third pint in his favourite pub.
Unconventional, unknown and homebrew systems are of much bigger concern

Longlegpete

For me that's one of the best reasons to have a good monitored alarm system, you know your are less likely to be targeted in the first place ( statistics show to quite a high degree ) and the fact that the criminals will have a limited time in your house, taken together with other precautions inside the house this can mean the difference between keeping your goodies or not

missile

Is that true? What law prevents filming on a public street in Spain?http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...c-highway-film

Fred James

It would be illegal in Spain under the Data Protection Law. Videoing a public space is only allowed for the security forces.

missile

Read my link

Moses2013

It's not that easy and pretty complex, as mentioned in the other article belowHome surveillance CCTV images may breach data protection laws, ECJ rules | Law | The GuardianIf your camera is filming another person's private property, they could sue you.

Fred James

I did read it.

You asked what law prevented it being used in public spaces in Spain and I told you. To be precise it is
Ley Orgánica 15/1999, de 13 de diciembre, de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal.

What point are you trying to make?

missile

The point I am trying to make is the Data Protection Act does not make it illegal to video or take photos in public spaces. Have you actually read it?

missile

Agreed, the data protection act is poorly worded. I would suggest it was never intended to protect the "rights" of a thief. Please note, I specifically said "on a public street". FYI, I once gave photos of persons committing theft of a neighbours bicycles to the Police and they were very pleased to accept them.

Fred James

Of course I read it. What has it got to do with CCTV cameras in Spain - they are illegal under Spanish law if they cover a public space unless controlled by the police etc.

jimenato

Isn't that about the UK?

missile

You are wrong. The European Court of Justice has ruled “The operation of a camera system, as a result of which a video recording of people is stored on a continuous recording device such as a hard disk drive, installed by an individual on his family home for the purposes of protecting the property, health and life of the homeowners, but which also monitors a public space, does not amount to the processing of data in the course of a purely personal or household activity, for the purposes of that provision.”
As you may be aware(?) the Data Protection Act 1998 was enacted to bring British law into line with the EU data protection directive of 1995. Would you care to point out the paragraph(s) which support your opinion?

Fred James

You clearly are confused about which country we are referring to. The article you quoted is about the UK, not Spain.

For the last time, in answer to your question, the Spanish LOPD law does not allow private CCTV to cover public spaces.

I can't be bothered to contribute any more on this subject. If you don't believe me then just do your own research on the Spanish law.