hidden camera

[hpharley90]

Hi all, it seems lately that someone is a apparently keying (scratching) my wife's car at work. She works 1 night a week.(3rd shift)...convalescent home.....she does not know who is doing this....they scratch just the whole drivers side and the rear hatchback...
Is there a camera I can install in car so that I can catch the perpetrator?...

[Steve Grisetti]

So sorry to hear about this kind of thing happening, harley. But at least in this day and age there are lots of options for inexpensive surveillance. In fact, I noticed at Target yesterday there's a half an aisle dedicated to nanny cams and security cams. Average price, about $50.

But let's see what our community comes up with for recommendations. You'll want something with a run time of, what, about 8-12 hours?

[TreeTopsRanch]

Place the camera outside of the car so that you can get a video of the bad person. Putting a camera inside of the car will only film the midsection of the person. (Unless he/she bend down and looks directly in the camera through the window of the car. You can even use a cheap game camera for this.

[Steve Grisetti]

Are you looking for a specific model of cam, Harley?

I did a search on outdoor spy cams on Amazon and there's a great variety to choose from. There are some, for instance, that look like things like a rock or an electrical box and there's even one that looks like coat rack hook!

Indoor spy cams are cheaper. Have you got an observation point where you can mount the camera? Is it indoors or outdoors?

[sidd finch]

I wonder if the convalescent home has a security camera? You might try looking for a camera that has night vision. Unless te parking area is well lit at night. Most of the consumer grade cameras do not do so well in low light.

Sidd

[hpharley90]

S
You'll want something with a run time of, what, about 8-12 hours?

I was thinking about the same time frame myself.

[hpharley90]

Place the camera outside of the car so that you can get a video of the bad person. Putting a camera inside of the car will only film the midsection of the person. (Unless he/she bend down and looks directly in the camera through the window of the car. You can even use a cheap game camera for this.

I was thinking about mounting to the head rest and I did not think about getting the mid section...thanks for that...

If and when I do get a camera I would do some tests at home to get the best shot..

[hpharley90]

Are you looking for a specific model of cam, Harley?

I did a search on outdoor spy cams on Amazon and there's a great variety to choose from. There are some, for instance, that look like things like a rock or an electrical box and there's even one that looks like coat rack hook!

Indoor spy cams are cheaper. Have you got an observation point where you can mount the camera? Is it indoors or outdoors?

No specific model....I was thinking about mounting on head rest. Outside camera as good as they are is out of the question.
It has to be in car....I will look at Amazon for indoor spy cam..thanks for that Steve...I never would have thought of spy cam from Amazon.....that is why I posted here...

the rest home has no cameras...my wife approached the administrator and explained what is happening and she said she can't be responsible for what happens in parking lot..

[Peru]

Put a mirror in the car and aim the camera at the mirror.

[hpharley90]

Put a mirror in the car and aim the camera at the mirror.

very good...that's thinking outside the box....good idea.....

[momoffduty]

Low tech: sleep in the backseat Sorry, couldn't resist. Hope you find the jerk. Is there a street lamp she could park under? Change up the location? When I worked downtown St Louis I parked in a large parking garage. I got a note one day that I was in someone's favorite spot and to park elsewhere. If I didn't there would be damage to my car. Well, I never parked in that spot again. But I noticed other cars parked there and got keyed.

[hpharley90]

Low tech: sleep in the backseat Sorry, couldn't resist. Hope you find the jerk. Is there a street lamp she could park under? Change up the location? When I worked downtown St Louis I parked in a large parking garage. I got a note one day that I was in someone's favorite spot and to park elsewhere. If I didn't there would be damage to my car. Well, I never parked in that spot again. But I noticed other cars parked there and got keyed.

I suggested to my wife that she parks elsewhere where there are no cars so no one has to walk by her car to get into work...

[Steve Grisetti]

Is this a daily thing, Richard?

If it's happened more than once, I'd be very very concerned!

Once might be an accident, a random stunt or even some sort of dirty attack. But more than once -- or more than TWICE -- might indicate someone with a sick obsession.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

...When I worked downtown St Louis I parked in a large parking garage. I got a note one day that I was in someone's favorite spot and to park elsewhere. If I didn't there would be damage to my car...

That doesn't sound very intelligent. Shouldn't take a genius to work out who was responsible(?)

[hpharley90]

Is this a daily thing, Richard?

If it's happened more than once, I'd be very very concerned!

Once might be an accident, a random stunt or even some sort of dirty attack. But more than once -- or more than TWICE -- might indicate someone with a sick obsession.

My wife only works one night a week so I can't say it is a daily thing but it has happened on more than one occasion.
Some scratches I just dismissed as being caused by shopping carts or bicycles. But there are too many and there are a couple that look like an X. Plus the ones on the hatchback right below the window are very deliberately done judging by the shape of the scratches.. .