Abstract: An optical monitoring device includes a housing including a plurality of walls and an interior space disposed therebetween, an opening disposed in a wall of the plurality of walls, and a movable panel, the opening forms a window through the wall, and the movable panel is configured to be moved to access the interior space; a lamp assembly disposed within the interior space and positioned to project light at the window; a camera including an image receiving lens, the camera positioned within the interior space with the image receiving lens is in optical communication with the window; a memory storage device for storing image data; and a controller in electrical communication with the camera and the memory storage device, wherein the controller is configured to compare instant image data from the camera to image data stored on the memory storage device.