Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: Si D on June 11, 2008, 13:34:57
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Got to the allotment yesterday to be greated by a notice proclaiming that the site was now subject to CCTV monitoring.
Sure enough there are camera on the toilet block next to the gate and on the portocabin that's being used for the schools project (that was broken into not long ago and damaged (see Shirl/Tone's post)).
Well, on the plus side it shows that someone is doing something.
On the negative side.....
does CCTV work or will vandals just igniore it/wear hoodies/nick the cameras/etc?
what about the rest of the site that's not covered by the cameras?
and will the police reduce patrols now that there is cctv to take their place?
Hope i don't sound like a moaner - I applaud people trying to do something about our problems...just wondering if this approach has worked elsewhere?
My small own efforts in stopping the vandals getting over the fence next to my plot (one of their favorite areas of acess) has been to encourage a good think clump of nettles around the fence and it looks like it's worked (althoug, of course, it won't do much in the winter - think I might encourage some briars next).
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You're quite right in your observations that at least someone is trying to do something about the problems. But why not try and believe that this action might be a positive move and worry about it failing if and when it does. A lock on a front door won't always stop a burglar but simply make them think of another way of gaining entry - it is not guaranteed that the lock on the door will be the way to stop an undesirable gaining entry. I also noticed that you have a lot more negative thoughts in your list than you do the positive one - a sign of the times perhaps? It might just work though - the cctv might make whoever caused the damage in the first place to wonder if it is worth doing it again. I hope it proves a successful move for you anyway.
twinkletoes
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Walking back home from the plot, down the little track that runs along the outside of the allotments, what did I find? A smashed up camera lying on the ground, or rather the remains of the case from one :(
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Weasels.
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Hi Si we are on the same allotment site so I do understand where you are coming from, but surely we have to do everything in our power to try to persuade these rotters from vandalising our stuff. We cannot just stand back and ignore what they are doing, Your plot is on the edge of the site so you are going to be more of a target than perhaps some of the others. I should definitely barricade yourself in with brambles but remember where theres a will theres a way. These vandals don't give up easily. If after all our efforts we have to give in at least we have tried to make the place safe for everyone
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Oh, I'm all for trying anything, and not detracting from the efforts of those who put the cameras up - well done to them for getting something organised. I was just wondering if they were going to do any good or whether the scummers wouldn't give a monkey's about them (which sadly appears might be the case).
Plan 'B' I guess, pits and punji sticks......
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Plant a blackthorn hedge you get sloes and anyone that pushes their way through it get blood poisoning or at least a very painful injury.
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I'm 100% behind and agree with all that Shirl says, so refer back to her post for my views.
CCTV any use? I really think it is & I don't knock the plice force...it could be that the positioning of the cameras might need some tweaking & more installed around your site? (dunno the installation/running costs & spect an EGM might have to be held to agree to the additional funding if your lottie will have to foot the bill?) and having the things running & full of film's gotta be a must ::)
Recently, my lock-up garage in a block was subject to an attempted break-in - all filmed by a high-up CCTV camera installed by a private business cencern in the vicinity....I've got a print-out of My Very Own Toy-Boy complete with Beanie & an 'official-looking yellow&black jacket.....as, now, have the plice....
I know and trust my local plice force.....we give them things to work on/with and they're hot as mustard when they're provided with the meat ;D
....and PS.....I'm in S.Brum, you're in North....I'm not thinking that your Force is operating differently to ours.....my thinking is that this is an area that's been identified by them as a potential hot-spot for random crimes & they'll be patrolling it - as much as their budget/man hours/availability allows? I reckon they'll do their v. best by you all...
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Thanks for the encouragement Lish.The camera's were only fakes but they looked real enough. We just thought that they might just deter even a few vandals that thought of breaking in. We had the local papers down yesterday to see the damage. They came down when we had just started the project. They are printing an article on friday. Nothing happened last night. Our chairwoman and her partner were down there until 12pm waiting to see if anyone came onto the site. Thankfully they didn't. I was worried in case they got hurt. No use Tone and me goin down were too bloomin old to fight anyone off. Went today to help clean all the powder from the extiguisher up but it was almost done. I just wish we had a bit more support from the other plot holders. I wasn't very keen at first but now I am very proud of what the few of us have achieved in such a short time. Perhaps in time they will come to appreciate the venture. Who knows eh!
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I bloody despair that all the lottie holders aren't pulling together as one on this, Shirl and Si, but, hey, that's peeps for you :(
Should you decide to go down the 'proper' CCTV route, you want I ask the owner of the bizz.concern for the co. he got his from as another quote for you?
btw....cost of this and previous supportive post=NADA.....but another bag of WRM always welcome ;D - and it certainly WILL be well-rotted by the time I can get over to see you - things particularly manic here atm....
Lish x
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As I said before LIsh you can come anytime. Always some black gold for you luv.
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I just wish we had a bit more support from the other plot holders.
I bloody despair that all the lottie holders aren't pulling together as one
I think that a number of them don't know that there is problem. I've been speaking to some newbies (all the plots are gone now- it was just over half full a year and a bit ago when I started so plenty of new people) and none of them knew about the vandals and in some cases they knew little about the schools' project.
I think if other people knew about it then more would be willing to help. Ditto the vandalism. It's hard to support the measures against it when people don't know what they are. F'rinstance, I'd have been happy to help put up the cameras but didn't know it was happening. Perhaps, as someone upthread said, there should be a EGM to discuss matters, get new ideas and get some more help on future projects? Think that I shall mention this next time I se one of the committee.
As an aside, seems someone has had the excellent idea of threading brambles along the top of the fence near the entrance. Might have a go at doing the same around my plot. Of course, that leaves the rest of the fence without any...again a call or volunteers might help?
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I cannot agree that folks don't know about the project because since February there has been a large notice up asking for volounteers for 1 or 2 hours on a Saturday morning. I do realise that most of the plotholders have to work and perhaps just have time to do their own plots. Perhaps some of them just don't want to get involved. Anyway Si will see you on Saturday when some of us are going to put the brambles around the perimeter fence. A couple more people have said they will come tomorrow to lend a hand. Who knows maybe this will bring us all closer together.
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get an empty case camera and fill it with itching powder and red powdered dye :) if they distroy it then they get covered.
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Nice one Cambourne
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I cannot agree that folks don't know about the project because since February there has been a large notice up asking for volounteers for 1 or 2 hours on a Saturday morning. I do realise that most of the plotholders have to work and perhaps just have time to do their own plots. Perhaps some of them just don't want to get involved. Anyway Si will see you on Saturday when some of us are going to put the brambles around the perimeter fence. A couple more people have said they will come tomorrow to lend a hand. Who knows maybe this will bring us all closer together.
Oh, yes, they know it's there, just that they aren't entirely sure of all the details.
Me? - on a Saturday morning - with my reputation, erm, laziness, you'll be lucky ;)
Anyhoo, we should all bow down now that we have a media celeb in our midst ;D
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Tsk, another break in last night, shed break-ins and burning of scare-crows ::)
Have been having fun with brambles today. Methinx it's going to take some time to do the whole fence.
Well, at least the police were there and taking an interest when I was leaving.
Shirl - all the best to Tone - hope he's feeling better soon.
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Thanks Si. They are keeping him in.Dunno what to do with meself cos we do evrything together.
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I work in CCTV and from experience, a good deterrant for keeping the 'younger' generation from vandalising property is the Mosquito and/or a master blaster. Although a master blaster might be somewhat difficult to rig up around a group of lotties!
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Those mosquitos are bloody irritating they are only supposed to be audible to teenagers but I can hear that annoying high pitched noise they make & I turn 29 next month. To make it worse loads of kids around hear use the mosquito ringtone so avoiding the places where they put the devices doesn't help avoid that noise.
Having mosquitos at an allotment site would certainly keep me away.
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I reckon you must be in your second childhood then Baccyman if you can hear it .lol. They have left us alone for a few days so are more than likely tormenting some other poor tods
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'Preciate that, BM, I only meant that it could be turned on late evening when everybody had finished their work and lotties are susceptible to vandalism :)