When someone messed with his reindeer, it was the last straw for Keith Gardner.

Gardner and his family had just returned from a trip to the coast at Christmas time to discover that while they were away, vandals had meddled with the family's holiday decorations. A few weeks later, someone slashed the tires on all the cars on their street.

Since then, a home surveillance system has made it impossible for someone to enter the Gardners' property undetected.

Gardner, who runs an audio and video production business, Pitch Black Productions, used his technical know-how to set up cameras that capture everything that goes on outside the house. Motion sensors tell them to begin recording every time there's movement outside, and the cameras are linked to the Internet so that no matter where he is, Gardner can log on and check what's happening at home.

"The premise is that if something did happen, now there's some way to go back on the camera and view it," he said.

That's not the only home security step the Gardners have taken. Keith, an admitted technophile, has installed an electronic keypad on the front door, so that lost or stolen keys will never be a problem-family members can simply punch a code to get inside. A lockbox accessed with a different code holds keys if they are needed.

Lighting outside their house is controlled by timers, so that crooks can't tell whether there are people inside the house.

"When we're not home, the lights will turn on and off anyway," Gardner said.

Since installing the camera two years ago, the Gardners have had no vandalism, tire-slashings, or other trouble.

"It's possible that criminals see that camera and it's a deterrent for them," Gardner said.

His wife, Teresa Gardner, said she feels safer with the camera system in place.

Security technology

Security alarms are usually installed by a professional security company. They can be set to alarm audibly or silently. Police are notified if the alarm is triggered. Some cities, including Albany and Corvallis, require permits for security alarms.

Security cameras simply record what's going on outside the home, providing images that can be provided to authorities should any criminal activity occur.

Lighting can be a good crime deterrent; thieves often avoid well-lighted areas. Timers can provide the illusion that someone is in the house turning lights off and on, even if the occupants are away. Motion lights that turn on only when movement is detected outside the house are another choice.

Costs

Security cameras can be purchased at electronics stores such as RadioShack, Best Buy, or online. They can run from as little as $49 for a basic camera to several hundred dollars. A camera like Gardner's is called an IP camera, which can be connected to the Internet. To view the images from the camera, you need a computer connected to the Internet. Gardner estimates he paid less than $400 for all the components of his system.