Vandalism - Dash cam advice

Jamiesmum

I'm going to go buy a dash cam tomorrow (412G Nextbase) and get it hard wired in by Halfords (any cheaper options?)

What I would like to know is .. If I get it hardwired in will it automatically turn off when I'm not in the car?

If I didn't get it hardwired in and used the cigarette lighter (a bit of an inconvenience for me because satnav/phone charging/lighter) would it drain my battery overnight?

Currently driving a crappy 2002 1.4 Fiesta for a few months. Someone has taken offence to my current runaround. Only had it for 3 weeks and has had minor damage + then both wing mirrors knocked off on separate occasions. Both mirrors over the past 2 nights. One a night.

I need it running through the night as I would like to find out who is damaging my car.

Never had an issue with anything like this before in my street but I'm p'ssid off now as currently can't drive it. I'm relying on it to get to work, visit my nan, and get to my Grandads funeral in 2 weeks and can't risk not having it available because some idiot decides to damage my property.

Browntoa

Hardwired in then motion detection MAY help by locking the 4 minutes the event occurs during otherwise the unit will overwrite the SD card in the end depending on card size

Jamiesmum

Good point, the largest I can find to buy in store is a 32GB which says it stores 4 hours worth of footage then loops.

The past 2 nights (could kick myself now) I've heard both incidents but didn't put them together until this morning it's happened between 11/12 would kicking a wing mirror be a big enough 'bump' to save footage automatically?

I'm just crossing my fingers nothing happens tonight.

Edit to add, obviously if I heard it again now I'd be straight out of bed and downstairs but the first time I assumed it was nothing, then in the morning I guess a car had hit it, and then last night I heard another loud bang but didn't really think anything of it .. until this morning. Obviously someone was walking across the pathway to do it.

It could just be coincidence but meh, the cynic in me says I've probably p'ssed someone off.

missile

If car is parked outside your property where you have line of sight, you might be better with a security camera?

You want a camera which has parking mode. The nextbase doesn't, although I guess you could wire it to run 24/7 but that would drain your battery.

dacouch

Try a wireless baby monitor.

Put the babie's microphone in the car and plug the speak in by your bed.

forgotmyname

Watch techmoan on youtube he will show you why dash cams are rubbish for capturing vandals.

dacouch

A dashcam is hadny when you're driving though.

You can possobly get 20% cashback with Quidco at the moment. (Clear your cookies if you're already been browsing the Halford site before trying to get cash back

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/24-hour-flash-deal-quidco-20-cashback-halfords-2600578

System

Dashcam wouldn't have captured the vandalism because they only can see in around a 120 degree field of vision so if they're pointing out the windscreen they won't see what is going on down the sides or the rear of the vehicle.

Jamiesmum

Thank you for the replies.

The sound on my laptop has been mashed since I got it so can't watch youtube. Is it not what I think it is, then?

A CCTV camera is a great idea, I didn't think it was legal to have it facing onto a street/road though ? If I'm wrong we can get one!

Which cameras are decent that have parking mode, please? I assumed at the cost, nextbase would have. Oh dear

Jamiesmum

Tarambor wrote: »

Dashcam wouldn't have captured the vandalism because they only can see in around a 120 degree field of vision so if they're pointing out the windscreen they won't see what is going on down the sides or the rear of the vehicle.

It's parked on a road though, so I would assume they need to walk down the path in vision of the car, at some point?

MikeWhite

Jamiesmum wrote: »

It's parked on a road though, so I would assume they need to walk down the path in vision of the car, at some point?

Not proof though.

And how about - walk up from behind, take off mirror, scratch door, whatever, and walk back the way you came?