Catching A Thief With Our @Netgear @ArloSmartHome Security Cameras Available Exclusively at @BestBuy #BBYConnectedHome #Ad

***Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.***

True (terrifying) story: Last Friday at around 3:30PM, I was sitting here blogging. All of the sudden, I heard a vehicle pull into my parking space next to the house, and I heard a car door slam. Of course Dan wasn't supposed to be home for hours, so I walked over to the window and peeked outside to see what was going on.

​There was a very surly looking man in my yard, and his white van was in my parking spot. He was acting pretty odd, and was peeking into windows and looking at my home a bit too intently. I had a REALLY ominous gut feeling while observing this man, and I was immediately on high alert. 

The man made his way onto my back deck, and knocked on my door. Of course this Mama is no fool, so I didn't open the door. Something seemed off, and I wasn't about to open the door for someone who had no business being on my property. 

After he knocked without any response, he actually tried to OPEN my door. My door handle jiggled. Thankfully, the door was locked. By this time, I was panicking. I mean, I was home alone with 2 small children. Kyle was still at the high school, and Dan was at work. Here I was, a small woman with 2 young kids, and this mean looking man was apparently trying to enter my home. If he had succeeded, I think he would have been in for the shock of a lifetime. I was armed and ready to protect my children. Thank God he decided to get in his van and leave.....Not before I took down his plate number, of course. 

Once I caught my breath and my heart left my throat, I called my husband at work and burst into tears. I told him what had happened, and how scared I was. He left work early, and the very first thing he did was install our  Netgear Arlow Smart Home HD camera set. We had just received them a week or so before, and this creepy incident gave us the motivation to get them all set up. 

We received both the Arlo Smart Home Security System and a super-fast Netgear Nighthawk DST Router.

This router is AMAZING, since up to 10 devices can be connected at one time. It even features a Dead-Spot Terminator, which helps to eliminate WiFi dead zones. If that's not enough incentive to go grab this Best Buy exclusive, the Nighthawk DST even comes with a year's worth of Geek Squad support. 

Once we had the router connected, it was time to install the cameras. Our Arlo Smart Home Security System came with the following:

• Arlo Smart Home Wireless Security Cameras (4-Pack)
• Smart home base station with power adapter
• Ethernet cable, 4 magnetic camera mounts
• 7 mounting screws, 16 batteries, window decal
• Owner's manual

These cameras were amazingly simple to install. The most difficult part was deciding where to put them! Ultimately, we decided to cover every entry point to our home. Our whole property is now under 24/7 surveillance. 

Installing was easy, like I said. All you will need is a drill. All of the mounting hardware and screws are included with this package. Just screw the mounts wherever you'd like the cameras to go, pop in the batteries, and sync your cameras to your phone or other device. (There's a very convenient, free app to help you monitor your cameras.) 

Boom! The cameras are now ready to go, and will record any time motion is sensed, day or night. When motion is detected, you will receive an alert on your phone or other device, and you can also opt for e-mail alerts. This footage is stored in the Arlo Cloud, and can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Downloadable apps enable you to view live video from your compatible Android, Apple® iOS, Amazon Kindle, Windows or Mac device. You can choose to delete footage, store it, or even download and share it on social media. They offer both free and paid services, but we have found that the free version meets our needs quite well. 

The footage itself is very high-quality. These cameras offer 720p video footage both during the day and at night. Bad weather? No worries! These cameras are made to work in most any weather conditions or temperatures. In fact, they will function perfectly indoors or outdoors from 14° to 122°. Pretty awesome, right?! 

I wish I could say we haven't caught anything bad on our cameras. I wish I could say all we have seen are kids cutting through our yard or the mailman delivering our mail. 

Unfortunately, we recorded something awful the same day we installed our cameras. A young man was caught parking his bike and walking into our front yard at 1:21 AM. He actually stole one of our Halloween decorations. SO disappointing! I have posted the video below to our local Facebook groups giving this young man the opportunity to do the right thing and return our ghost. If he doesn't, this footage will be turned over to the police and a report of theft will be filed. 

The best part? My community is very close-knit. People care about their neighbors here. When I posted my video of our Halloween Thief, many people asked me about our cameras and where to purchase them. It looks like plenty of people will be heading to Best Buy to purchase their own Arlo Smart Home Security Cameras. More cameras means safer neighborhoods and less crime. After all, the very last thing criminals want is to get caught. These cameras not only capture their deeds and alert you in real time, they act as a major, major deterrent. Most criminals will pass a home by if they notice that the home has surveillance or security systems. 

If you want to monitor your home or property, I would definitely recommend checking out the Arlo Smart Home products at Best Buy. These great, easy to use cameras will definitely help keep your home secure, especially during the Holiday season where break-ins are frequent due to the fact that loads of people travel. We are VERY pleased, and honestly, the first time you stop a criminal in the act, these cameras pay for themselves. It's such a worthwhile investment, and definitely give me a renewed peace of mind. 

Another reason to head over to Best Buy to snag these babies is the fact that this package includes a FREE MONTH of Sling TV!

With Sling TV, you can watch live and on demand TV from popular channels such as ESPN, AMC, A&E, TNT, HGTV and more.  There is also a $50 off compatible device offer – available with 3 months of prepaid Sling TV service; this offer is available in Best Buy stores only, and not online; the $50 discount is given in the form of a Best Buy store coupon. 

To learn more about how YOU can have a connected home, visit your local Best Buy. 

How do YOU keep your home and family safe and secure? 
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