Computer as home surveillance?

[Caffeine]

While i was at work yesterday, my refrigerator moved.   Only about 6 inches, but it definitely moved.  I asked my landlord (he lives next to me) about it, and he denied any entry into my apartment.   I think he's lying.  Even if it was someone else (nobody else has a key to my knowledge), who the heck moves a major appliance but leaves 2 laptops alone?

I was thinking of setting my computer up to record what goes on around here while I'm at work.  Anyone know a good program for doing that?   I figure my computer has a built in camera, and a big hard drive, so there's nothing to stop me using it (theoretically) as a surveillance tool.

[Elijafir]

I don't know the name of it, sorry.  But, several years ago (8 or 9) my brother had a program that kept his camera running and would record for a set amount of time (i.e. 1 minute) when any movement was detected.  Have you tried doing any google searches for something like that?
(He used to have some good videos of women getting naked, as his wife at the time was a seamstress...)

[Caffeine]

I found some interesting info on CNET

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-10301349-248.html

Looks like YawCam will do pretty much what I want.      

[yamahonkawazuki]

And you can get a 1tb hard drive for less than 75 new, ( some of these video files will be LARGE, with a drive like that you could always leave it running, and if nothing is amiss, delete teh data. if somethign is amiss, can review it

[ohgood]

While i was at work yesterday, my refrigerator moved.   Only about 6 inches, but it definitely moved.  I asked my landlord (he lives next to me) about it, and he denied any entry into my apartment.   I think he's lying.  Even if it was someone else (nobody else has a key to my knowledge), who the heck moves a major appliance but leaves 2 laptops alone?

I was thinking of setting my computer up to record what goes on around here while I'm at work.  Anyone know a good program for doing that?   I figure my computer has a built in camera, and a big hard drive, so there's nothing to stop me using it (theoretically) as a surveillance tool.

it's not hard to setup a webcam with quicktime (macs) to record at intervals, and stream to a web enabled phone. we've done it, just to be silly.

i'd do something more wild though, like hang a HUGE PICTURE of a bright green pee pee on the first wall you come to entering the apartment/house. something like "HA YOURE ON CAMERA !!!" written in big bold black letters might be good for impact. he/she will have a very hard time denying seeing the offensive picture the next time you meet. then toss in some "sooo, had a webcam setup in my apartment, and guess what i saw ?" to top

[yamahonkawazuki]

While i was at work yesterday, my refrigerator moved.   Only about 6 inches, but it definitely moved.  I asked my landlord (he lives next to me) about it, and he denied any entry into my apartment.   I think he's lying.  Even if it was someone else (nobody else has a key to my knowledge), who the heck moves a major appliance but leaves 2 laptops alone?

I was thinking of setting my computer up to record what goes on around here while I'm at work.  Anyone know a good program for doing that?   I figure my computer has a built in camera, and a big hard drive, so there's nothing to stop me using it (theoretically) as a surveillance tool.

it's not hard to setup a webcam with quicktime (macs) to record at intervals, and stream to a web enabled phone. we've done it, just to be silly.

i'd do something more wild though, like hang a HUGE PICTURE of a bright green pee pee on the first wall you come to entering the apartment/house. something like "HA YOURE ON CAMERA !!!" written in big bold black letters might be good for impact. he/she will have a very hard time denying seeing the offensive picture the next time you meet. then toss in some "sooo, had a webcam setup in my apartment, and guess what i saw ?" to top

HAHA  nice. also get a business envelope or a legal one, write on it,  lease agreement for new house or mortgage agreement, whatever, and place it in  a spot he would surely see if he was there uninvited., then ( this is after cameras are set up) wait for him to ask you why you were thinking of moving?