In the business of property protection it is important to look in the right places. It is also important, however, to seek the right advice when kitting out your home and farm with the latest tech security. When talking to a number of security companies, their best advice is to seek it and ask professionals what would be suited to your needs.

It is important for farmers to shop around to find products that are best suited to their particular needs and budgets.

Oculi wireless camera

The Oculi wireless camera is referred to as ‘‘the new kid on the block’’ and the pinnacle of security technology. It caters for a range of things including movement, camera, motion detection as well as infrared.

The unique aspect of this camera is that it has the ability to take photographs of the intruder and send them directly to your phone. This machine is an independent entity as it has a battery life of six months.

As the camera features a considerable amount of technology including 3G technology and a lithium battery it is an expensive but worthwhile commodity at €699 from www.tecsecurity.ie

Voice alert

Voice alert has a built-in sensor designed to detect movement from unwanted visitors.

Once detected, a pre-recorded message is played through the system and is used to inform the individual that their presence has been noticed and to leave the area immediately.

This is ideal for use around farmyards or near houses as the message will only activate for humans, with the sensor ignoring livestock and small animals.

The message will be eight seconds long and can be recorded easily by the user and can be changed when required. The volume is adjustable and can be set to startle unwanted visitors.

The voice alert is a standalone unit with no cables or wires used. This unit is simple to install, comes with complete instructions and will cost you in the region of €120 from www.tecsecurity.ie

Megapixel IP CCTV

The Megapixel IP camera is useful in situations where people or objects need to be recognised in a scene, allowing identification of faces as well as licence plate recognition.

Detailed images can be achieved by installing a network camera with a telescopic lens or a lens with zoom capability to allow a closer view of the area of interest.

Tec Security and Farm Alert have a number of packages available including a wireless four-way pack for self-instalment at €699 with the only requirement being power at the point of instalment and the screen in 100m radius.

Another option is the wired four-way package that is for self-instalment for €699.

Watchman ultrasonic oil level monitor alarm

This handy addition can afford peace of mind from the comfort of your own home.

Watchman’s nifty contraption checks the level of oil in your tank and in the event of suspicious activity around your tank, it will set off an alarm in the house.

The transmitter sits on top of the tank and ultrasonically measures the level of oil in the tank and further transmits the information to a receiver unit that’s plugged into a socket in the home.

The height of the oil is displayed on an LCD screen on the receiver revealing when it is necessary to refuel.

In the event that the oil level in the tank drops at an uncommon rate (more than 1.5cm/minute) the receiver in-house will emit an audible alarm.

This alarm can be found on www.tanks.ie for €148.22.

Tanklock

The Spinsecure tank lock is a patented tank locking device that will fit to a standard two-inch fill point inlet on a steel fuel tank.

Designed to make your oil tank secure, this clever concept utilises patented Spin Secure technology in that when the cap is locked magnetically, it spins freely and is almost impossible to remove.

The tank lock eliminates the use of padlocks that are easily removed due to its one-piece padlock-free design. As a result, there are no torque points for forced entry using equipment such as crow bars.

This ensures your oil tank contents are as safe and secure as possible. Tank locks can also be supplied with a special optional adaptor for tanks with a two-inch female inlet and are priced at €95.20 from www.tanks.ie

Dummy cameras

Dummy cameras can be used to reduce crime and provide a deterrent for thieves in both an effective and low-cost manner and can be found on www.freetv.ie

The dummy bullet camera is a popular product among the farming community as it offers a near-replica of the real thing for around €8.

Legitimacy of the camera is further reinforced with the option of a battery-powered flashing LED light.

The solar-powered dummy camera removes the hassle of changing batteries. This addition ensures that the LED light works indefinitely, but the price is a little higher at €19.

CCTV warning signs also prove very popular among farmers and often deter thieves as they are made aware that the area is under surveillance for a price of €5 to €12.

FreeTv recommends that dummy cameras are used as a deterrent and secondary form of security in conjunction with a real CCTV surveillance system.