Why get a Ring doorbell?

[WhistPie]

Don't get me wrong, we've got one and it's useful but it only records the first 20-30 seconds after it's detected a motion or a bell ring. So why do people suggest getting one to record doorstep interactions? Or have I not got mine set up right?

(Oh, and nobody can hear me talking properly through it if I don't go to the door and use it as a walkie-talkie)

I was so grateful for ours when we went on holiday and I saw that our pet sitter didn't turn up - her FIL had been in an accident and she spaced, I was able to get a neighbour to see to our cats.

I think the opposite. Those who have them are always fretting about strangers hanging around. Ignorance is bliss imo.

They can be easily blocked with a device e readily available

My Dad find it useful as he has mobility issues, so he can talk to whoever's at the door and also decide if he needs to come downstairs or not.

We got one because our house wasn't wired for a doorbell.

I have a ring camera because a notorious ,violent drug dealer moved in over the road and I wanted to record those moments when he kicked off outside of my house in case we became collateral damage. Thankfully he has moved away after he turned violent on his girlfriend. Now it's a deterrent hopefully for burglars.

Most of the anti posts are from people who don't understand the functionality.

I would never not have some form of video outside the front of my property now.

I suspected my window cleaner was lying about cleaning my rear windows, I was correct and could prove it with the footage.

A parcel was stolen from my door step and the retailer refused to honour it, I showed them the footage and I got my refund without any further question.

A girl was assaulted half a km away, police asked for footage from door to door enquiries and the camera picked up the offender and resulted in him being identified and arrested.

A takeaway was delivered to the wrong address, deliveroo refused to refund as it was showing as delivered, sent them the footage showing it was delivered to a dishonest neighbour, got a refund.

Caught one of the neighbours letting their dog foul the front lawn, confronted them with the footage, problem solved

Five examples and I can't think of any negatives for a device that cost just over £100.

I got one when we moved into a town house. Saves me having to get up every time I thought I heard someone knocking.

A Ring doorbell didn’t stop my neighbours get burgled last year.

In the 7 years I have had my full CCTV, I caught the the lads stealing my neighbours car and allowed the police to catch them a couple of hours later as I got a notification, it also recorded a car full of youths who parked up by my house to burgle a flat down the road, sufficient to say I was able to provide the police with film of the number plate and pretty good descriptions of them all.

I used it to provide evidence of an abuse shit ex at my door twice and he got an ASBO from the footage, the house next door that is rented out it helped me show the police the old neighbours were dealing drugs as I recorded it all and they got moved out.

I have recorded my car bring hit and neighbours cars being hit twice by other cars parking and all successfully claimed against every single one.

My doorbell camera also recorded and stopped someone trying to steal my DPD parcel once, it has parcel protection on it with dual camera.

My CCTV camera also helped another neighbour identify who was letting their dog shit in his alley way.

I could go on but over the years, I have managed to act upon and prevent numerous criminal behaviour by me.

Thankfully you’re not obliged to actually watch any of the footage. So there is no downside to it

The upside is when a drunk driver clips your car and drives off, and you notice the next morning, you have footage. Or when you hear a strange noise at night, you can check it out from bed. Or any of the other reasons that surely don’t require much imagine to think of

I love being able to talk to people through the doorbell. Last year an ambulance showed up at the house when nobody was home. I was able to convince them that they had the wrong house.

We have the Ring alarm system and two floodlight cameras too. They all work together seamlessly.

Mainly so you can see what happened either side of a motion event, it often reveals an inoccent explanation to what may have initially appeared more sinister.

I take the view that if there's anything I can do to improve the security and information around my property I'll do it.

We were burgled years ago, so anything to make us feel more safe as it’s always at the back of our minds when we leave the house.

As others have already pointed out, its easy to go back and look for actual events of what has happened. Even if its weeks ago and some one only just realises.

Just like if some one clips your car and you only realise a week or so later or some thing happens to a neighbour and you only find out about it after the event.

Most people don't realise the technology available, so dismiss it. I have PTZ cameras (Pan, Tilt, Zoom), they can identify people, pets, cars and automatically follow them and light them up at night with a flood light and inform me. They also have two way audio and alarm if some one enters an area I have marked.

Searching footage is east as you can see in the image i have selected both people, cars and pets and it will only play the bits I have selected. But it does record 24/7.

All my neighbours are aware of my systems and on multiple occasions have either asked me to keep an eye on their property or asked if I captured some thing.