Dear LPG,

I am lucky because I have quite a few friends that I can visit and who visit me.  I am nearly always part of an ongoing project of an overnight or weekend stopover where I am either the visitor or the visited.    Like YF of Plumstead, who wrote on the subject not so long ago (►►►), the down side of that is that I spend quite a bit of time away from my home and, because I live alone, I also have concerns about what is going on there when I am away.

I have quite a lot in common with YF because I also got some of those cameras installed downstairs so that my phone gives me warning of any movement it detects, and though I have no idea about the technicalities, they are really easy to use once someone who knows how has done all the initial setting up process for you.

In my case it was my son and, because I went on a two-week holiday abroad we arranged it so that his smart phone also has access to the video footage if the system is triggered.  I find it comforting to know that if someone who should not be there got in my son would also know about it.

I think that he worries about me more than is necessary. He is very attentive and spends at least half an hour on the phone to me a couple of times a week.  The other day we were talking and I mentioned that I had had an unexpected visit, and when I mentioned this he just said ‘Yes mum, I remember seeing my cousin and you having tea in the living room’. 

I told him that I forgot that he would have been alerted although I don’t see his observation as an intrusion.  It was then that he mentioned something that makes perfect sense but that we often don’t realise.  

He reminded me that if you have one of these cameras in your house and you can check what is going on in your living room when you are away, unless you turn it off (and I would suggest plug it out), you, or anyone you give access to, will be alerted when movement is detected.

But it is also to be remembered that the company, who provided the equipment has access to that footage even though It is highly unlikely that they are checking your every movement.  Most of these cameras also hear and record.  In fact, the whole point is that you can recall the footage if need be.

So remember to plug it out when you don’t need it or at least to find out how to disable it.

ZC, Penge