Need dash cam due to break-in

welcome!

and i was considering a move to the bay area.

 

yeap, cali is known for it...don't even leave any kind of bag/change/shoes/etc visible in your car and even if your car looks completely free of valuables...it'll still get broken in

and I'm pretty sure cali police departments are very busy with other things, then to catch car thieves. When Target had that huge credit card breach a few years back, someone basically stole my card info and spent $150 10 minutes after I left Target, I was able to get everything straightened out the very next day along with Target having footage of who it was, but the police were like we'll look into it when we get time when I went to file the police report, lol.

So good luck...your dash/hidden cam could just be another item the thief takes

 

That is illegal and might get YOU into more trouble than the "bad guys".

You need to be careful with this because a camera like that can be hard on your 12 V battery.
Better to get one with a self contained battery.

Then......the first thing they steal might be the camera.

 

The better cams for night currently use a Sony Exmor sensor. I have been pleased with the Vikcam ($62) unit that uses one; it's a big step up from the A118/119 cams I had previously for night. You can use power pack for a phone between the 12v source and cam to keep the camera on for awhile after the ignition is off, or wire it directly to the battery to keep it on indefinitely (will drain battery though...).

Having said all that though, nothing you capture on a dash cam is going to be evidence grade for a break in, if the police are even willing to put any effort into investigating it. They only add a modicum of insurance against incidents on the road.

 

You might consider having security plastic screen applied to the inside of the window. At least they won't easily be able to get into the car as the plastic sheet will keep the glass together. Depending where you park, a well-concealed Trail Camera might be used to capture evidence, and some 'CCTV in use' stickers on the car itself might be a bit of a deterrent?

 

Sorry to hear that. I'm using Z Edge Cameras in my cars. This link Search Results for “dash cam” – Most Designs shows the two different models I'm using as well as a few samples of video quality. Both can be set up to turn on (on their own battery power) after they sense an impact and start recording. One could very easily be turned around to record the interior. The problem here is what makes you think that they won't just steal the dash cam as well? I mean to be honest I worry its more of a theft magnet that deterrent when its parked. My C is parked in the garage at home at night, and I'm not far from it at work so I don't worry too much. My other cars however, that are used on trips or for fun all have alarms. It's not a guaranteed solution of course, but may make them at least hit the next car rather than yours.

don't do it! lol I'm Bay Area adjacent now, and trying to work my way out of California all together.

 

where are you thinking of? don't come here, the weather is horrible.

 

Need dash cam due to break-in

Yeah, I'm with these responders. Not sure what would be a better solution. Minimize your parking in sketchy areas? I don't think there's anything high tech you can do.

 

move to vancouver?

 

Window security films. I'll probably end up getting them mainly for front windows since others are tinted.

 

I’ve been running a Lukas dual camera system for a couple of years that meets your specs. What I’ve learned in the pre-purchase phase was to decide how often you want to replace it. Higher temperature ratings generally mean higher quality parts but this comes at a price. Most now come with a capacitor as opposed to an internal battery to avoid the random unscheduled smoke being liberated. Some taxi-cam options also look inside.

 

That's great advertising...but I think career thieves would probably have more effective window smashing methods and gear then a labcoat, faceshield, and protective gloves

 

Pretty sure he has a rock in his hand... or something that is hard.

 

If you plan to do it yourself you can buy the films on Amazon. If you don't like it at least it's only $20-$40 loss. Watch youtubers for how to install and remove. VViViD has 4 mil, 8mil and 12 mil. If I buy and install I'll post how they look like. If they are tint then soapy water is used, if vinyl then heat gun/blow dryer is commonly used because of the sticky adhesive. In my profile pic I have clear vinyl wrapped my hood and roof to protect from bird droppings and rock chipping. No one would tell it is wrapped. I was planning to do the side windows eventually but looking for the right film.

 

Here is the pic of the clear vinyl on my hood. I don't recommend to install unless you really have the time and the patience to do it right. It took me 2 tries. First one was discarded because I slapped it on and thought it would readjust easy. 2nd try had to take my time. To me it's peace of mind that my hood and roof is protected for up to 5 to 10 years. This has been on for 4 months.

 

The security films seem the most logical, direct way to prevent a smash and dash crime.

However, I was recently given one of those Emergency Auto Glass Hammers. I would wonder how those would do against such films, in both an attempt to break the glass and get in, and/or a need to break glass to get out.

 

Good point. I heard the glass hammer was to help you break the window when your car is sinking in water. Because the force of the water pressed against the window makes it difficult to break. I think breaking a glass would only allow the water to rush in faster with glass parts hitting your body. So you still can't get out until the water gets in. Best thing to do is to allow the water in and then open the door when it's possible. The better thing to do is to immediately roll down the windows and wait for the water to rush in the car or else you end up fighting against the current. The good thing is that scenario is rare. But a bad scenario I can see is if you're trapped in a burning car unconscious and no one can break the window to get you out.

So maybe it's good to rethink this one.

 

Keep nothing in the car and leave doors unlocked.... Unless they are professionals they won't be able to bypass the starting security system. Low life scum bags are going to take what they can take....

Z917VL ?