O/T Neighbor damaging my cars.

[congorobot]

Since falling out with one of my Neighbors about a year ago I have had a number of things done to my cars, not the westy though its garaged! I have had to replace two brand new tyres after finding screws in the shoulder, my wife's last car had its side window smashed, her new car has been scratched, and last night the aerial was ripped off my audi. Unfortunately I live in a mid terrace house so am not able to see the cars from the house. I was thinking of some sort of cctv that I could install. I have looked on Maplins website but am baffled by what they have on offer. Ideally I would like two or more outdoor motion triggered cameras that are capable of recording in low light conditions without being obvious, and some sort of rolling recording system.

Does anyone have any experience or advice they can offer me?

Cheers.

Dave.

[spence]

Is something like this any good to you. You can buy these cheaper.

I've just got one as a sample so not sure how good it is at the moment. Have still to put a SD card in it, hopefully by the weekend so I can check the quality.

Only problem I can see is setting it up can be a bit of a pain, but will report back if anybodies interested.

http://direkt2u.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=48&products_id=313

[peterg]

here?  

ptZUK_Gadgets?hash=item290272760144&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1296%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318" target="_blank">or here?  

[simmi]

If you using a camera for evidence to prosecute you will need one that has a date and time stamp on it and then have think about a long play VCR or DVD to record. If you only want to catch the culprit then any cheap one that has low light. I got one from Maplins years ago and it’s been OK it’s been on for about 5 years now and never been turned off, cost  around £50 ish. I’ve been obsessed by it in the past but all I’ve seen are Foxes.

[congorobot]

It may seem quite extreme going to this length however I have no intention of moving in the next few years, and the damage and annoyance being caused is ever increasing. I am not sure that the cameras in the links will be suitable due to the area that I am trying to cover (thanks for the links though). I have taken this map from google earth. The arrow marks my lock-up and the two white blobs are where are cars tend to be parked overnight. Ideally some sort of IR camera that is either wireless or wired, transmitting to a recorder in my garage. I guess if it is wireless then I may have battery issues! The guy who has the end garage next to where the cars are parked has also had issues with the said neighbor so I would not think he would mind a camera going up on his garage.

[carpetstu]

Be careful of data protection law. If you are going to install a camera with a recording device you have to put up signs saying you have surveillance equipment recording.

Without this the neighbour if clues up could sue.

Some rough details here

http://rapson.co.uk/cctvsigns/cctvwarningsignsdpa.html

I know its ridiculous but without it you could be the one in trouble.

[congorobot]

Is this also the law in Scotland?

I don't suppose I could say that I installed the camera to observe the foxes and other wildlife and coincidentally happened to catch a vandal at work?

[congorobot]

QUOTE

I got one from Maplins years ago and it’s been OK it’s been on for about 5 years now and never been turned off, cost  around £50

Is this something that works/records after dark?

What does it record onto?

[bjnsharp]

Be careful of data protection law. If you are going to install a camera with a recording device you have to put up signs saying you have surveillance equipment recording.

Without this the neighbour if clues up could sue.

Some rough details here

http://rapson.co.uk/cctvsigns/cctvwarningsignsdpa.html

I know its ridiculous but without it you could be the one in trouble.

That should not be a problem if that is a public car parking space. It is not covered under data protection act. It would only apply if the camera recorded footage of people in a private area.

Also on the issue of watermarking the video. If you have footage of somebody damaging your car and they are identifiable from the footage, then I can't believe it would need to be time stamped/watermarked.

[simmi]

Be careful of data protection law. If you are going to install a camera with a recording device you have to put up signs saying you have surveillance equipment recording.

Without this the neighbour if clues up could sue.

Some rough details here

http://rapson.co.uk/cctvsigns/cctvwarningsignsdpa.html

I know its ridiculous but without it you could be the one in trouble.

That should not be a problem if that is a public car parking space. It is not covered under data protection act. It would only apply if the camera recorded footage of people in a private area.

Also on the issue of watermarking the video. If you have footage of somebody damaging your car and they are identifiable from the footage, then I can't believe it would need to be time stamped/watermarked.

I have mine set up to my DVD recorder, so I can record my self when I want. the more expensive recorders that are designed for cctv record on movement from the PIR.

[carpetstu]

As far as I am aware its an EU directive so covers all of the UK.

As far as public areas are concerned, again as far as I am aware this is even more paramount in the Data Protection Act as you are recording people you do not know or have prior permission to record, so a notice of intent is needed so they have the choice and are informed as to the cameras being there.

If it was a private area you would be able to assume that the people where there by invite and already aware and informed of the camera' presence.

To look on a common sense level, why would you need to inform people on  private land that are there by invite that you are recording them? That would mean that if you put a camera in your lounge you need to put a sign above the fireplace.  

[samcooke]

What about on them police fly-on-the-wall things on the telly? When the crook whinges about taping them the rozzers always respond that it's perfectly OK to tape in a public place.

Plus - what about when I take videos of the kids on the beach and catch folks in the background?

Doesn't sound likely to me.

Besides, I reckon Mr Bot's parking area will be private owned - shared between the house owners.

[bjnsharp]

Q: My neighbour has installed a CCTV camera and it is pointing towards my house/garden. Is this a breach of the Data Protection Act?

   If your neighbour is a residential property not operating for commercial purposes, the answer is no. The Data Protection Act protects the personal information processed by organisations. When CCTV is installed for personal domestic use it is not regulated by the Data Protection Act. If you are concerned about the use of domestic CCTV it may be worth contacting your local police. If your neighbour is a business then they will need to comply with the Act. For more information,  contact our helpline or read our CCTV code of practice.

If it was pointing directly at someones house/windows, then you could get in trouble with the police, but pointing at your car in a car park, the police wouldn't do anything.

The signs only apply to organizations/business's.

[carpetstu]

God this gets worse...

Apparently a private individual can take pictures in public area. But if you want to be able to use recorded footage in court the signage must be in place if it was recorded for surveillance purposes.

And a camera fitted to a hose to record people entering and leaving the premises must not extend its vision scope onto the public highway.

Still searching google...don't shoot me just yet!  

Edit to add ... and waiting for a call from the mother in law who lectures in Data protection.

OK she says the data protection law can be interpreted on merit (esp in court)

A guy taking pictures with camera in open space is not seen as an issue because he can be seen.

up a tree with combats as camouflage would be deemed as a big no no.

Covert surveillance whether in private or public should be informed through signage because you can so therefor you should.

And she says even then its not that clear cut. Also certain areas have different views whether it be the council, courts or police, dependent on how they interpret the data laws.  

Head hurts now gonna get a beer!

[carpetstu]

Ok here you go

The use of cameras for limited household purposes is exempt from the DPA. This applies where an

individual uses CCTV to protect their home from burglary, even if the camera overlooks the street

or other areas near their home. Images captured for recreational purposes, such as with a mobile

phone, digital camera or camcorder, are also exempt.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload....301.pdf

but the advice from the Dragon ,sorry mother in law is speak to the local police about if it would be allowed as court material if signs are not present.