Spy Camera's?

**aaradia** · 09-19-2010

I think I need to buy one to film my car.

When my car got hit on the left side recently, I did a walk around and noticed that someone has been repeatedly opening their door into my right side and dinging it. It HAS to be my neighbor in my apartment complex. Most of them are all in a row, I am talking about a dozen. They are at the right height for that car. Most at one particular height. It is the ONLY place where my right side has someone on it regularly. I park next to an island at work on my right. I am protected on my right at my martial arts school. My landlady talked to them, but I think there is a new one.Really, my car should be able to be safe in my parking spot at my home complex.

So, I need to catch it in the act of happening. I have NO idea how to buy a spy camera. I guess ideally it needs to be in my car but pointed out to film the right side? Or if at a distance, I can put it in my front apartment window and film out to where we are parked.

Can someone give me some advice? Where to go? What to look for? Legal issues?

**maryals** · 09-19-2010

Well that really stinks! I'm sure somebody here can help you out.
Mary and Bessie

**Alpha** · 09-19-2010

That's crazy aaradia....what kind of moron would repeatedly keep dinging your car?!?!?....are the parking spaces very narrow so that the cars are really close together?

Can you find out who parks beside you?

I don't know anything about spy cameras, so I hope someone here can help you out. I think it's a good idea to try to catch them on tape.

Maybe someone at a place like radio shack can recommend what would be the best and easiest way for you to set it up.

**aaradia** · 09-19-2010

Yeah, I know the apartment complex, there are only about 20 apartments in my complex. I had my landlady talk to them and thought it was resolved, but I think there is a new dent. I have to go document them today, so I can be sure when there is a new one.

The spaces are pretty large, they have a huge car. My car is pretty small and I have lots of room in my space.

**Judee** · 09-19-2010

Maybe someone at your insurance company might be able to help? Have you seen your car and the car in question parked side by side in their spaces? You could usually tell pretty easily where the area is on the other door that is coming in contact with your door. Do you know your neighbors? As for a surveillance camera, I would say to look on line for that type of thing. I know people set up surveillance cameras all the time when something like you are talking about is going on. As for liability, contact the police department, or the attorney generals office of your state. If it is your neighbor doing that, and it's continual, I'd say someone needs a brain/courtesy check! What did your landlady tell you about talking to the neighbors?

**aaradia** · 09-19-2010

I just paid a $500.00 deductable for someone ramming the other side while parked at work and taking off. Plus, I don't think that repeated dings are considered collision. I have kept my car in good shape and I am now getting bashed left and right by jerks through no fault of my own. And yeah, the height of the door fits- I did look at that. I don't ever talk to them, but I have seen them.

My landlady told me she talked to them and the indication was there should be no further problems. I can't be sure the ding in question is after that, but I think it is. I am going to mark a piece of paper showing where all the current dings are right now so I can say for sure if new ones pop up.

I can't believe someone can be so freaking inconsiderate of their neighbor. I think she just doesn't pay attention when she puts her child in the car seat. I am making no secret of watcing her when I see her go into or out of her car lately. But I don't know what else can be done by my landlady or anyone else if I can't provide proof that it is her- even though it HAS to be her.

For exeample: If I show a video to my landlady, she can pursue it with greater zeal. And I might have more avenues there. Or I COULD talk to my car insurance and have THEM go after her. Or I can show her and say nicely "knock it off!" Or if it comes to the point that I have to buy something and track it, I might stop being so compliant and take her to small claims court. If it stopped with the talk with the landlady, I would let it go, but if it continues, well I won't let it go.

One SHIOULD be able to park in their spot without a careless neighbor beating your car up repeatedly through carlessness. It is a rude impolite world out there. No respect.

I even thought "two can play this game" and I should purposfully open my door into them. That would get the message across. Two can be disrespectful. And it would put a stop to it. But I just can't bring myself to that. I am not that kind of a person.

This is why I think I need to go the camera route.

**Alpha** · 09-20-2010

aaradia, have you called the police?

Usually with any ding or accident, there should be paint residue on the other car that made the dings.

If this neighbour is the one doing it.then there should be some of your car paint residue, on the door of her car....just a thought.

**aaradia** · 09-20-2010

Originally Posted by Alpha

aaradia, have you called the police?

Usually with any ding or accident, there should be paint residue on the other car that made the dings.

If this neighbour is the one doing it.then there should be some of your car paint residue, on the door of her car....just a thought.

The police would laugh at me for calling them over this. They don't have tiem for small stuff like this. They are WAY understaffed.

No paint residue, but I think it is because the angle their door hits me is so dang high it hits from angle that it would not show with their door closed. Plus, most of the dings have a dent of an inch or so, but no paint scraped off. So, there would not necessarily be paint showing. Lots of dents, only one or two have a paint scratched of at all.

**aaradia** · 09-22-2010

Ok, I talked to our security guard about this. And he came up with a better idea than a camera. I am going to get an alarm. I don't need it for theft. I have a killswitch thing on my car. And I find alarms annoying.

But I won't use it except at home. That way, whenever she even touches my car, the alarm will go off. I will step out my front door and she will see I am tracking and able to see everytime she touches my car. It will make her be more careful I think. Unlike the camera, she will know after the first time quite well that what she does is being tracked. No legal issues of taking somones picture either.

If it keeps going off? Then the landlady might get involved without me having to keep bugging her. She says something to me and I respond that this is how I am protecting my car from the incidents I previously discussed with her.

Yeah, better than the spy camera, and probably easier to do. The guard said you can buy them pretty cheap nowadays.