Abstract: Systems and methods for linking neighborhood cameras and recording video from cameras that monitor public areas proximate neighborhood homes are provided. Some methods can include providing a plurality of cameras, each of the plurality of cameras linked to a respective security system in a plurality of security systems, each of the plurality of security systems protecting a respective building in a plurality of buildings, detecting an alarm event in a first security system of the plurality of security systems, and responsive to detecting the alarm event in the first security system, instructing the plurality of cameras to record video of a public area proximate the respective building in the plurality of buildings protected by the respective security system in the plurality of security systems linked to each respective camera in the plurality of cameras.

Abstract: Systems and methods for linking neighborhood cameras and recording video from cameras that monitor public areas proximate neighborhood homes are provided. Some methods can include providing a plurality of cameras, each of the plurality of cameras linked to a respective security system in a plurality of security systems, each of the plurality of security systems protecting a respective building in a plurality of buildings, detecting an alarm event in a first security system of the plurality of security systems, and responsive to detecting the alarm event in the first security system, instructing the plurality of cameras to record video of a public area proximate the respective building in the plurality of buildings protected by the respective security system in the plurality of security systems linked to each respective camera in the plurality of cameras.

Abstract: A method for using a security system to monitor a secured area is provided. The method includes a first processor of the security system providing a status of the security system, including an active status output signal and a disarmed status output signal, a video system monitoring the secured area by capturing and locally saving images, and a second processor of the video system activating one or more video cameras of the video system monitoring an interior space of the secured area upon receipt of the active status output signal and deactivating the one or more video cameras upon receipt of the disarmed status output signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording video. The method includes the steps of a plurality of security systems within a predetermined geographical area each detecting intruders within a respective home of the predetermined geographic area, a camera associated with each of at least some respective homes of the plurality of private security systems, the camera recording video in a public area surrounding the respective home of the security system, detecting an intruder within a security system of the plurality of security systems and activating the at least one camera within each of the at least some security systems to record video in response to the detected intruder.

Abstract: A method used a security system monitoring a secure area. The method includes a first processor of the security system providing a status of the security system including an active status output and a disarmed status output signal, a video system monitoring the secured area by capturing and locally saving images, a second processor of the video monitoring system activating one or more video cameras of the video monitoring system monitoring an interior space of the secured area upon receipt of the active status output signal and deactivating the video cameras upon receipt of a disarmed status output signal.