Latest news with #homeSecurity
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mom-of-three stalked for TWO years by the man who installed her home security
A woman who was terrorized for two years by her own home security has shared the traumatic details of her ordeal - and what eventually led to her stalker being caught. The woman, who lives in Brecksville, Ohio, unknowingly hired stalker Robert Hocevar's company Elite Technology in 2022 to install a home security system. After setting up the system Hocevar, 57, began to stalk the woman, using the cameras he had installed to watch her from both his vehicle and his home. The woman, who has not been named publicly, began receiving phone calls in the middle of the night. She recalled him referring to her by name in the calls, and later, she started receiving text messages that contained graphic images and videos - admitting it took a heavy toll on her. 'Not knowing who it was at all and having no clue... Initially, I thought it was somebody just playing a joke on me but then as it started to get worse and worse, that's when I decided to go to the police,' the mom-of-three told News Nation Now. Hocevar - who had dubbed himself 'Bob the alarm guy' - was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison on July 8, with seven known victims in total. The woman, who works as a nurse, said she had hired Hocevar after a relative recommended his company. The mom detailed having an uncomfortable feeling when the alarm was being installed but dismissed it. 'When he was talking to me after it was installed, I had a moment where I felt uncomfortable because he was very close to me,' she admitted. 'I remember taking some steps backwards.' The Brecksville woman said the scariest part of her two-year nightmare was when her burglar alarm was activated by Hocevar remotely on three different occasions in the middle of the night. 'It was scary because I was lying in bed many nights, wondering if this is the night that this escalates and he does something physical,' she explained. After two whole years of being terrified, the woman decided to try and catch her stalker herself by communicating directly with him in the hope they would reveal their identity. 'I would text and he would text me and he started to give more clues of who he was,' she explained. Eventually, Hocevar slipped up, forgetting to disguise his voice with the woman vaguely recognizing it. 'I had a family member listen to it after I kind of figured out it was him and when she heard his voice, she said, "without a doubt, that's him,"' she said. She was later watching a story on Fox affiliate station WJW when she realized Hocevar was her stalker, learning he had been arrested for stalking and harassing two other of his female customers, and in addition had a long criminal history. 'I felt like, "how is this man in people's homes selling alarm systems when he's been harassing, stalking?"' she asked, adding: It's terrifying to think I had this man in my home.' In June, Hocevar pled guilty to three counts of burglary, three counts of unauthorized use of computer, cable, or telecommunications property, three counts of menacing by stalking, one count with sexual specifications, three counts of telecommunications harassment and one count of possessing criminal tools. He must also register as a Tier I sex offender. As per Cleveland 19 News, Hocevar was convicted of one count of telecommunications harassment and one count of menacing by stalking and was sentenced to nine months in prison in 2008. In 2015, Hocevar was convicted of three counts of telecommunications harassment and was sentenced to one year in prison. In 2020, Hocevar was convicted of two counts of menacing by stalking and was sentenced to six months in prison. Detectives discovered that Hocevar was using burner phones and altering his voice to conceal his identity, while stalking and terrorizing his victims, as per Fox 8. All of them had hired him to install security systems, which included cameras and alarms.
Digital Trends
11-07-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Protect your family with the best security camera — at lowest price for Prime Day
Prime Day is an excellent opportunity to boost your home's safety features, and you simply can't go wrong with the Arlo Pro 5S. This security camera is currently available from Amazon at its lowest-ever price of $90, which is 50% off its original price of $180. However, with the shopping event almost nearing its end, you may lose your chance at the savings of $90 if you don't hurry. Proceed with your transaction right now, especially if you're planning to buy multiples of this security camera for your home. Why you should buy the Arlo Pro 5S security camera The Arlo Pro 5S is our top pick among the best home security cameras as it comes with everything that you'd need from such a device. With 2K video quality, you'll be able to see everything clearly when you're looking through its lens using the Arlo app, and it also has up to 12x zoom, color night vision and a 160-degree field of view. It's a wireless camera that's powered by a rechargeable battery, and it works with your smart home ecosystem of choice — Amazon's Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Home — for seamless integration with your family's devices. You'll be able to further maximize the capabilities of the Arlo Pro 5S with an Arlo Secure plan. Starting at $5 per month, membership unlocks helpful features such as a 30-day video history saved to the cloud, smart notifications, AI-powered person and vehicle detection, and so much more. There's no shortage of home security camera deals for Amazon's Prime Day, but you're going to want to go for the Arlo Pro 5S, which is on sale for its lowest price ever of just $90. There's even a chance that the 50% discount on its sticker price of $180 doesn't make it to the final minutes of the shopping event, so there's no time to waste. If you're thinking of buying the Arlo Pro 5S security camera — or multiples of it — you should finalize your purchase as soon as you can to make sure that you pocket the savings of $90 each.
CNET
10-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Anti-Prime Day Deal: The Smart Video Doorbell I Recommend to Everyone Is Over 30% Off At Walmart
Amazon Prime Day Deal: The Google Nest Doorbell does everything you'd want it to and is heavily discounted during Amazon Prime Day. Right now, you can get the battery-powered version in Ash, Linen and Snow for $120 -- or about 34% off at Walmart, during its Anti-Prime Day sale. The Ivy version is discounted, but has a smaller price cut at $26 off, coming in at $154. A video doorbell is the perfect security accessory for monitoring your front door, porch, driveway and all around your home. It's even ideal to put at the entrance to your small business. This device can help with little things like greeting visitors and seeing when a package arrives. It can also come in handy if something bad were to happen, since you'd have everything recorded on the doorbell. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Whether you're traveling, hosting family and friends, want to keep a closer eye on your property or you want to protect someone who is elderly or just perhaps starting out on their own, this Google Nest Doorbell is one of my favorite devices in home security. After reviewing a dozen doorbell models, I still use a version of the Nest Doorbell myself. My testing of video doorbells revealed two important qualities of the Nest doorbell. First is its AI-powered object detection. Most doorbells have it, and many even offer it free, like Nest does. But I found Nest's doorbell recognition abilities to be especially accurate. It can recognize people and packages flawlessly, while avoiding triggers from vehicles (you can also set motion zones to ignore passersby and others). Those recently updated AI recognition qualities are getting even better as Google incorporates its Gemini AI into Google Home. That now allows me (in the beta program, at least) to ask specific questions about when the trash was taken out, and also to get AI descriptions of exactly what happened to trigger an event. Those are fascinating features, if you're willing to pay for a Nest Aware subscription. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. I also love how Nest handles cloud video storage. I get three free hours of storage without needing a subscription before the video expires. That's unusual in the doorbell world and gives me plenty of time to check on an event, even if I can't get to the live view right away. That makes this doorbell a solid pick for people who want to avoid monthly fees. Nest cams continue to get new features, including Google Home for the web, which allows you to view the camera feeds through any online device. This video doorbell is also tough enough to work in all kinds of weather. It isn't perfect -- the resolution is a bit low, for example, and I wish Nest would release a third-gen model -- but it is still my preferred front door device so far. Technical specs for the Google Nest Doorbell Dimensions: 0.95 by 1.8 by 6.3 inches 0.95 by 1.8 by 6.3 inches Weight: 7.3 ounces 7.3 ounces Video resolution: 960x1,280 pixels 960x1,280 pixels Video format: H.264 H.264 Video frame rate: 30 fps 30 fps Field of view: 145 degrees Why this deal matters Many video doorbells, including this one from Nest, are available in wired and battery forms, with the battery model usually costing a little more. In this case, it's no contest: I highly recommend getting the battery doorbell whenever possible. While wiring a doorbell in yourself is usually easy (and gives you access to the built-in chime), a battery model allows you to adjust height and placement of your camera, so you get the exact view you want. Video doorbells usually need to be placed right beside the door, around 4 feet up. Not all doorbell wiring allows for this (my house doorbell certainly doesn't). Also, the Nest Doorbell comes with an angled attachment you can use to point the doorbell away from nearby walls so it covers more of the action. For more, don't miss the best Prime Day deals under $25.
CNET
09-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
My Favorite All-Purpose Security Cam Is a Steal at 50% Off During Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day deal: This small home security camera from Blink has an amazing deal for Amazon Prime Day 2025. It's currently on sale $20, or 50% off its regular price, and can be used indoors or outside. Best of all, this deal extends to the 2-pack and 3-pack bundles, too. When I tested the Blink Mini 2, I came away with two thoughts. First, it's amazing just how much a tiny little camera can do, packing every feature possible into a model that sits easily in the palm of your hand. Second, the Blink app is one of my favorite home security apps for its quick setup and viewing, getting the job done easier than nearly any other. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. What makes the Blink Mini 2 special? The Blink Mini 2 offers shelf and wall mounting options, but you'll need an outlet connection. Tyler Lacoma/CNET In addition to the super-easy-to-use Blink app, I found that the Blink Mini 2 can fit nearly anywhere, which is great for folks short on space or who want a cam that doesn't stand out. It's wired, so you will need to have a nearby outlet, but that's the only restriction. You can even add a swiveling mount to make it pan and tilt. Also, it's amazing just what the Blink Mini 2 can do. Inside the HD cam is motion detection with app alerts, two-way audio, a siren, a little spotlight and night vision. It can even function as a chime if you have the extra-cheap Blink Video Doorbell. And since it's an Amazon brand, you can bet it works with Alexa and all Echo devices, though not with any other home assistant. Can I use the Blink Mini 2 outside? A Blink Mini 2 mounted outside in the rain. Blink You can mount the Blink Mini 2 outside, but it requires an extra outdoor cable. The cable is the only part that's not weather resistant, so it needs an upgrade -- and a nearby outlet, which could take some electrical work. However, the bundle with the outdoor cable is also incredibly affordable, costing only $30 for the complete package. Keep in mind that because it's so small, the Blink Mini 2 won't have the same range as some outdoor cameras, but it's great for an entryway or small patio. Do I need a subscription for the Blink Mini 2? Blink's person detection works well enough, but it's a subscription-only feature. Tyler Lacoma/CNET It's not required, but it'll add more features. Blink's subscription, which starts at $3 per month, adds cloud video storage, but you can also choose to get a Blink Sync Module 2 ($50) and a USB drive for local storage. Otherwise, you'll only get camera live views. The subscription also adds object recognition, as in telling people, packages and animals apart. And it extends how long you can watch the live view for, up to 90 minutes. If you really like these extra features -- and they can come in handy -- consider getting the bundle that includes one full year of the high-tier Blink Plus subscription and the cam for $100. For a look at more Blink cams, check out our top outdoor security cameras and wireless cams too. Plus, the best cheap camera models.
Gizmodo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
The Blink Video Doorbell Is Practically Free, Amazon Seems Determined to Clear Out All Their Stock
Among all the Amazon devices going on sale during Prime Day, the Blink video doorbell wins the award for largest discount. This newly updated version of Blink's smart doorbell now sells for just $29, while its normal price is $69 (that's a massive 57% discount). See at Amazon Amazon seems intent on clearing out as much stock as possible even though the device itself is compact and easy to store. If you're a Prime member—even if you're just using the free trial—you can take advantage of this incredible offer. With summer being a peak time for break-ins, there's never been a better moment to secure your home. The Blink doorbell is a second-generation product with far better improvements than its first. With it, you receive the head-to-toe HD image of anything from a visitor's face to deliveries left on your doorstep. You are protected both daytime and nighttime thanks to infrared night vision. The two-way audio feature lets you communicate face-to-face through the Blink app, so you can greet visitors, leave delivery instructions, or deter unwanted visitors from home. Unlike some other options, including the Ring video doorbell, which often costs significantly more frequently, Blink can provide a complete set of features at a tiny fraction of the price. While Ring is a household name, Blink's product is cheaper and more widely available, which makes it a smart choice if you want to improve the security of your home. The battery life of the Blink doorbell is arguably the most impressive aspect of the device: With the three that are included AA Energizer lithium batteries and the Blink Sync Module, you can enjoy up to two years of uninterrupted usage before replacement of the batteries is required. This amounts to less maintenance and more tranquility. The Sync Module Core that comes in the box assists your doorbell in staying connected and responsive at all times. Installation is easy: you can set it up wire-free in a matter of minutes or connect it to your existing doorbell wiring if that's what you want. If you choose to go wireless, you can repurpose a Blink Mini 2 camera (sold separately) as an indoor chime, or just rely on instant alerts delivered directly to your phone through the Blink app. Security features are improved with edge AI processing where the doorbell quickly identifies people at your doorstep. When you buy the Blink Subscription Plan (separately), you get better alerts each time a person is spotted, in addition to access to Blink Moments which connects several clips into one shareable video. There's a free 30-day trial of the subscription plan right now for Prime Day. At just $29 for Prime members, the Blink Video Doorbell is one of the best Prime Day deals out there. See at Amazon
