After some VERY secure projector cages...

[mrbios]

I'm after some security cages for projector mounts, we've had a total of 4 stolen over the past 6months, 2 last night! it's getting beyond a joke, can anyone suggest a good universal cage that even bolt cutters and a crowbar would make a robber go "oh **** that"?

[laserblazer]

Wouldn't an effective security system be a better option? As it is, if they can't pinch the projectors, they'll go for something else.

[mrbios]

Trust me, i've complained, and complained and complained some more about the state of our security system - the cameras in one building still go on to VHS tape! and of the out door cameras a total of 4 out of 16 are operational!!!

 

Sadly it's not my job so i can't do anything about it other than complain, though while i've had slight whinges to higher management i may mention it to the head that it desperately needs money spent on it and the man in charge of it needs a kick up the ass to get it sorted!

 

Surprisingly even considering the state of the security system i think we caught them on camera last night, albeit on a shoddy quality vhs recording but a recording nonetheless.

[Guest TheLibrarian]

We have some of these, I think this maybe what you are looking for.

 

Top Tec Security & Industrial Products - UK

 

Nice design means they are quite easy to unlock and service too.

[Educare_AV]

I would agree with The Librarian, these are probably the best on the market. They have been used for a number off years now and I haven't come across anything better. They fit straight onto a 50mm pole, But you need a very strong fix into the ceiling due to them weighting about 20kg. I would suggest probably getting them installed by your local AV company, so you can be sure the correct fixings have been used.

[Andrew_C]

The problem won't be the weight, but the leverage that the pole will exert on the ceiling fixing. If they REALLY want your projector, they'll take it, pole, ceiling plate and all.

[Guest TheLibrarian]

I agree the thieves may get the pole / cage down if they really want to, but they won't bother - they'll go for easier targets, since installing these cages we haven't lost any projectors.

[Educare_AV]

The problem won't be the weight, but the leverage that the pole will exert on the ceiling fixing. If they REALLY want your projector, they'll take it, pole, ceiling plate and all.

 

That may be true but it is more of a deterrent to have a cage, then not. Also a lot of schools insurers insist that they are in cages or they are not covered for theft.

[p858snake]

Also make sure you get the ones with a proper look and not just a simple padlock because those can just get a bolt cutter taken to them.

 

And have you got your projectors engraved with the school details?

[hullpete]

these are also loss preventation certification board approved, best one on the market, but agree with educare av that these should be fixed securely preferably with chemical fixings if a concrete ceiling ive installed many of these in new build schools and they are by far the best on the market.

[Cue]

The problem won't be the weight, but the leverage that the pole will exert on the ceiling fixing. If they REALLY want your projector, they'll take it, pole, ceiling plate and all.

 

Don't forget the ceiling as well.

 

Explain it to your superiors that the cost of installing a security system would be much cheaper than the cost of all these projectors being stolen, not to mention the rest of the stuff if it continues. Motion detectors would really be enough, to be honest, that's what most schools have these days, bare minimum.

[glennda]

or cheekily setup your own security system?!

[Educare_AV]

It’s also worth mentioning that I have been to several schools that have had people walk in off the street and just unbolt projectors from there mounts and walked straight out again during the day. So instances like this, an alarm security system would be no good to you.

[hullpete]

these motion detector systems are no good, even though they are epoxy resined to the projector they offer no "visible" security, these can be ripped off the projector and discarded even if there is a bit of damage to the case of the projector the thief aint worried about that, plus it would take minimal time to nick a projector with a motion detector attached , therefore less thinking time from a gippo thief point of view, he or she is more likely to look at a top quality cage installation and think " hmmm no good will leave this one" your far and away best not skimping on security issues and invest in proper equipment and installation for your projectors, even though cash is short nowadays it far better with forethought spending the money instead of havin repeat robberies of poorly installed and ill advised security options,

[mrbios]

Got a super duper secret project that not even jesus is allowed to know about right now, this should be interesting

[dirtydog]

is it sometimes not cheaper to replace projectors that are stolen instead of buying security for everything?

[Guest TheLibrarian]

is it sometimes not cheaper to replace projectors that are stolen instead of buying security for everything?

 

OK, I'll bite; that would entirely depend on how many times you lose projectors and the cost of the damage caused during the break ins.

[dirtydog]

OK, I'll bite; that would entirely depend on how many times you lose projectors and the cost of the damage caused during the break ins.

 

agreed, we have been lucky here and rooms tend to be secure. I have used a couple of the Unicol alarms in the past but as mentioned before its not really a visible deterrent.

 

for the record I would also recommend Top-Tec, we use a lot of their products now. They are loads cheaper and just as good as unicol. The LCD security brackets are excellent.

Edited May 28, 2010 by dirtydog

[enjay]

OK, I'll bite; that would entirely depend on how many times you lose projectors and the cost of the damage caused during the break ins.

 

Cost of other damage is largely irrelevant, surely, as the thief will have smashed the window / kicked the door in / etc before realising that the projector was in an impenetrable security mount. That said, cages would deter the "inside job" thieves, as they would already know they existed.

 

My issue with a lot of these "security" products is they use standard "security screws". Since a security screwdriver costs less than a fiver, they're only marginally more secure than cellotape...

 

I used to work one place where they had been advised not to lock internal doors, as thieves will cause more damage to these in the process of stealing stuff - possibly just an insurance company trying to minimise pay-outs though!

[enjay]

Sad to say, but it is highly possible that the people involved in these thefts have links to the school, so whatever method you use make sure your students know about it. Our projectors have a really big "this product is PIN coded" come up every time you turn them on, which the students obviously see; put stickers on them cages to say they're security ones, put obvious labels that you use Smart Water or whatever. Deterrent is the key, and it may well be your own users you are trying to deter so make sure they know how difficult it will be.

[DarrenC]

Can I ask are you using the orange coloured no button projectors? I would also advertise as enjay has said with stickers potentially on ground floor windows as well.

 

In terms of cages there are some insurance graded products from memory BOSS cages are some of the most secure on the market. And make sure all fixings are security bolts rather than standard alan key fixings.

[torledo]

Can I ask are you using the orange coloured no button projectors?

 

Que ??

[DarrenC]

There are models of a number of manufacturers projectors (Hitachi, Sanyo etc...) which are made specifically for the education market. They are a delightful tango orange colour and generally come loaded with additional security features such as pin code locks, watermarks and often with no buttons on the actual unit itself so can not be used without the remote.

 

The idea came from France where they were giving laptops to pupils which made them a target for muggings and theft so they coloured all pupil laptops bright blue. This reduced the theft rate by 95%.

 

Similarly Joe Robber would have a much harder time selling the projector if it clearly came from a school environment (and in fairness who wants an orange projector?).

 

This will not guarantee to stop the problem but is again another form of deterrent.

[enjay]

Surely the "orange only in education" deterent only works if the public at large know that too, otherwise they'll happily buy an orange one off eBay without realising it is stolen...

[DarrenC]

True, however I think you would be hard pushed to find a unit on ebay that was not from a reseller.

 

Its also as enjay said its often someone associated with the school who have a hand in these issues and if it is made clear at school why the projectors are orange it may be a bit more of a deterrent.

 

As others have said if someone wants to steal a projector they will no matter what its just about making it harder for them and less worth their time.