cameras, motion detectors, break ins

[doublegregg]

my 2019 chevy van just got broken into. the moron mucked up the lock and steering column because he (sorry guys, it had to be a guy, lol) was too stupid to no he couldn't steal it... maybe i need a sign "must pass this iq test to be able to steal this van... question 1) how far in solar units is bla bla....." and, no, i am not saying guys are stupid..... 

looking for info on cameras (link below), motion sensors, lights.... i'm in a van, it has a bulkhead partition. i use a club, which to me is a visual deterrent (my thief was going to steal the van in spite of the club, and yeah, i no they are defeatable).  

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Sec...s=bluetooth+camera&qid=1610916681&sr=8-4&th=1

oh - my alarm was off, my battery was disconnected (issue with battery). not sure what this guy was thinking....

 

[ridgeway]

Alarm(turned on) and an ignition kill switch are very effective and not that expensive. You can make a ignition kill switch for $10. or have some on set one up for under $100.

 

[Uncle Todo]

I'd thought about some motion detectors for the van perimeter, maybe some cameras but would have to be smallish, I wouldn't want them overly obvious. Maybe even a wifi router so I have a wifi network for them.
I hadn't looked at all for components to do such, but mine would be more for piece of mind while sleeping.

 

[MrNoodly]

...maybe some cameras but would have to be smallish, I wouldn't want them overly obvious. ...

Wouldn't obvious cameras be more of a deterrent? Seems to me like hard-to-notice cameras would be more about catching thieves rather than preventing theft.

 

[bullfrog]

Just leave a note on the window “Ran out of gas be back in a minute. Please do not tow.”

 

[Uncle Todo]

Ha, yes, true enough. So maybe not so much as not being too obvious as much as being somewhat streamlined as they'd be in place full time.
I just came across these on Amazon, I might try for sideview cameras:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H852D49/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_kInbGbSEVB9XC
But realistically, unless they could sense motion and trigger an alert, not too good for security unless I'm up all night watching...

DG, sorry to hear about the break in, sucks when they're so unnecessarily destructive, probably a junkie.
But if you're looking for something while you're outside or away from the van, I'd imagine there are plenty of options.

 

[highdesertranger]

I don't know if you guys boondock but critters will drive you nuts with motion detectors. what seems like a good idea turns into a nightmare. highdesertranger

 

[Uncle Todo]

well yeah, but you get used to it, then when you need to pay attention you snore right through it!
(This post in no way implies anyone here has, does, or will snore)

 

[highdesertranger]

yep the boy cried wolf syndrome or you just get sick and tired of hearing the alert and you turn it off. highdesertranger

 

[wayne49]

Did this happen in an urban area or out in the boonies? Or somewhere in between?

If an audible alarm goes off every time someone walks by, that may lead to some unwanted attention.

 

[MrNoodly]

I don't know if you guys boondock but critters will drive you nuts with motion detectors.  what seems like a good idea turns into a nightmare.  highdesertranger

A house I once rented had exterior lights with motion sensors. They'd come on whenever the wind blew the bushes. I'd jump out of bead, adrenalin pumping, thinking someone was prowling outside, only see swaying vegetation, then not be able to get back to sleep. I ended up unscrewing the lights.

Unless the van is sitting on jack stands, your movements inside, even just shifting position while sleeping, will make the van move on its suspension. From the sensors' point of view, everything around the van would look like it's moving and, oops, on go the lights.

 

[maki2]

Some security systems used in vehicles have very big teeth and make an excekpllent deterrent.

 

[Matlock]

Just leave a note on the window “Ran out of gas be back in a minute. Please do not tow.”

^^^ That's the ticket.

If I'm in the vehicle then c'mon in. It's gonna get ugly real quick. I'm a light sleeper.

If parked while I'm shopping, I use a self installed kill switch, $20. And a inside motion alarm connected to house batteries, another $18. Speaker under rear bumper, $12. All work from the kill switch and rocking, banging on the vehicle won't trip the detector.

Once had something fall off the bed and trip alarm, I was walking away when it went off and about stained my BVD's. Another time unlocked the back door and totally forgot about the motion alarm. I thought about adding a simple time delay circuit but opted to just always enter from the drivers door and use the kill switch to disable everything.

If I'm hiking or jogging that would be a problem as I'm out of sight and sound for hours. They probably won't get it started but could easily empty it out. For my peace of mind, always better to park where others are about if the truck is left.

 

[ridgeway]

Every time I had the vibration sensor on any of my car alarms I had to turn if off because it would trip at night and disturb everyone and everything around. Load mufflers, wind, car stereos driving by,,,..

I used to install security systems professionally motion sensors work great inside. Outside not so much, way to many false alarms..

Cameras on a van like you are thinking would not be that great. for a couple of reason
- At night the IR lights will use a lot of power unless you have shore power you are going to deplete a lot out of your battery bank.
-You will need somewhere to store the footage, the ones that store it in "the cloud" are not very dependable and are low res. With low res at night you will get a ghost with a hoodie.
-They are just not that scary to a thief at night wearing a hoodie. Just another thing to steal and sell.

What works and is proven over and over again.
-Alarm hooked up. The little flashing light on the dash will let people know that this is not low hanging fruit.
-Kill switch.
-GPS tracking, even a sticker on the driver window that says "This vehicle has GPS tracking"a thief does not want that.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

IMO car alarms are worthless: I hear one go off about once a month and nobody pays any attention to it.  Its background noise.

I agree with maki2 that an aggressive dog is a very good deterrent for those times when you can leave it in the vehicle; but aggressive dogs bring their own issues.

Kill switches work for all but the most determined thief.  They do nothing to protect your stuff.

GPS tracking devices are good for finding your vehicle later but don't protect the contents.  They are also easily disabled by a professional car thief.

Druggies and professional car thieves are the hardest to deter.
Most of us don't have an expensive enough vehicle to attract the pros.
For the rest a hidden disabling device will keep someone from stealing the vehicle.  For damage and contents: good insurance.

 

[doublegregg]

looking for info on - as i said -- cameras, such as this cheap one... which looks like it communicates with a phone? is that via wifi? the price is cheap, but i don't really understand these new cameras, security systems, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Sec...s=bluetooth+camera&qid=1610916681&sr=8-4&th=1

it would be nice to have a camera you can just put somewhere, preferably with storage, reasonable clarity, cheap, easy... wouldn't that be nice? so - you could leave it in your van when you ran into the store, and it's monitoring the interior. or if you're camped somewhere, put it outside or poking out a window... presto... i think that'd be nice..... anyone work with those things? do they exist? am i sadly misinformed?

ty!

 

[doublegregg]

i'm probably incredibly naive and asking for the impossible............ altho the wansview camera gets 84% reviews of 5 or 4 stars on amazon... i don't have much patience for pairing things, such as cameras, that don't feel like pairing, tho. well, appreciate any input!

stay safe

 

[Uncle Todo]

You connect it to your home wifi, and then most likely an app you install on your phone to communicate with the cam over the internet.
So it needs both WiFi and internet, if you're looking for something mobile, it would constantly be using data.
As well you'd need to setup a wireless router in your rig which is consuming power in addition to the cam.

Any cam inside if you're expecting to monitor it live or in real time will require a connection between it and your phone, either wireless or Bluetooth within range.
For viewing after the fact, there's plenty of cam options that are even battery operated you can set to record when you leave and check when you're back.

 

[Matlock]

Ok, sorry I got all focused with my last reply and totally forgot to add the camera bit.

I bought a Transend dash camera 2 years ago because it allowed for wifi transmission to my cell phone screen.

This one at Amazon. Transcend DrivePro 230 Dash Camera, S-DP230M-32G, Includes wifi and G-sensor. $99.00

I've not thought of using it for anything other than sending via wifi "after the fact" footage to my cell for easier viewing.

Never considered using it as a Real time streaming wifi security camera but will give it a try. The transmission distance might be an issue and the G-force function that triggers the recording (not motion) could shut down wifi connection when off. I'll report back if ur interested.

 

[Matlock]

Quick update,
Using the app on my cell to access the camera I have at least a 300' range of real-time video. That's not line of sight but behind a couple buildings. Also, to save phone data you can disconnect from the camera video feed anytime and reconnect again. This does not shut the camera off.

I have more to learn about other options included with this camera that I didn't know existed. And FWIW, it's my second camera, I have one in each vehicle. The first camera is 5 years old (no wifi) and I've had zero issues with either one.
I'm going to test the wifi inside a home depot to see what negative issues, if any, the camera has.