Page 94 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2019

HOME & GARDEN stay safe
New Technology Guarding Homes
Floodlight Cam
Video Doorbell
story by Jeff Clark photos courtesy of Ring
It is the time of ‘big brother,’ the phrase coined by George Orwell in his classic novel 1984. But in an age when everyone is watching you, why not keep an eye on your home, even when you’re not there? And that’s exactly what the company that brought you Alexa is hoping you will do.
Ring is the latest product from Amazon to help decrease the number
of home burglaries and items stolen from a home. It’s a video doorbell that allows its users to answer their home’s door from anywhere using a free app on their smart phones. Ring can also be used for surveillance on your home if you are expecting a package. It can be purchased online and at some local stores from about $100 to $500 for the Video Doorbell Elite, which has to be professionally installed. The $100 unit runs on batteries and can be easily installed.
It makes sense that the online delivery giant Amazon is getting into the video surveillance game. A 2018 survey conducted by Comcast claims that more than 30 percent of Americans have had items that were purchased online stolen from their homes upon delivery.
J.W. Dedeaux of Pass Christian has been using Ring technology since December. He said it has been a worthwhile investment for his family’s safety. “We are very happy with the product,” he said. “You can set an alarm on it and it will go off and stop recording as soon as someone gets near the door. You can set it to go off so many feet from your door. This makes me feel safe when I’m working at night and my wife is at home. I know if someone is there and I can check on the house whenever I want.”
As an officer with the Pass Christian Police Department, Dedeaux also knows the value of home security. “If more people will invest in the Ring technology, it will definitely cut down on the theft of delivered packages, especially during the holidays. We had several reports of stolen items during Christmas; this should help with that,” he said.
94 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2019
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Stick Up Cam
Ring App