Malicious tyre damage - dash/car cam?
Discussion
The Wife's a part time mobile hairdresser in N London, calling into various old dears on a weekly basis some of whom live in Flats, she's always careful to park in visitors bays but I'm guessing that may not always have happened which may or may not be relevant.
In last 12 months she's suffered 8-10 punctures from screws in tyres, not always immediately obvious but inevitably the tyre pressure warning alert shows. In the past week Kwik fit have repaired and then two days later replaced the same tyre due to screw damage, she's got the Kwik fit insurance so the cost is minimal but she's now getting paranoid that she's upset somebody and they'll end up keying the car etc.
I can't believe it's just bad luck, I've had maybe 2-3 punctures in the last 10 years so I'm convinced somebody's got a grudge although she can't imagine who, she now carries a torch and inspects the tyres before she drives but would front and rear car cameras pick up somebody near the car when it's not attended?
I have zero knowledge of dash cams etc so will do some research but didn't want to buy something that just won't do what we need.
In last 12 months she's suffered 8-10 punctures from screws in tyres, not always immediately obvious but inevitably the tyre pressure warning alert shows. In the past week Kwik fit have repaired and then two days later replaced the same tyre due to screw damage, she's got the Kwik fit insurance so the cost is minimal but she's now getting paranoid that she's upset somebody and they'll end up keying the car etc.
I can't believe it's just bad luck, I've had maybe 2-3 punctures in the last 10 years so I'm convinced somebody's got a grudge although she can't imagine who, she now carries a torch and inspects the tyres before she drives but would front and rear car cameras pick up somebody near the car when it's not attended?
I have zero knowledge of dash cams etc so will do some research but didn't want to buy something that just won't do what we need.
Most dashcams are designed to shut off when the car is turned off because otherwise its a drain on the battery, some are designed to reactivate on feeling an impact but I don't think someone putting a screw into a tyre would be heavy enough.
I guess an option would be to have something like a Go Pro which would record constantly and has its own battery but you would need to recharge it fairly regularly to keep it running.
I guess an option would be to have something like a Go Pro which would record constantly and has its own battery but you would need to recharge it fairly regularly to keep it running.
Jamescrs said:
Most dashcams are designed to shut off when the car is turned off because otherwise its a drain on the battery, some are designed to reactivate on feeling an impact but I don't think someone putting a screw into a tyre would be heavy enough.
I guess an option would be to have something like a Go Pro which would record constantly and has its own battery but you would need to recharge it fairly regularly to keep it running.
If the OP's missus is out and about all day then it wouldn't be a problem to leave it running.I guess an option would be to have something like a Go Pro which would record constantly and has its own battery but you would need to recharge it fairly regularly to keep it running.
You can also get smart ones that stop recording when the battery voltage drops below a pre-defined level.
You can get back-up batteries that will continue to power the cameras while parked
https://blackvuehd.co.uk/product/blackvue-power-ma...
https://blackvuehd.co.uk/product/blackvue-power-ma...
Yes, you should be able to set a dashcam for continuous recording when parked, should be as simple as wiring it into a permanent supply rather than ignition switched (though you'll probably want to be able to still turn it off when parked in a "safe" location for long periods).
Would the simple act of putting a whiteboard on the dash with "visiting number 12" or what have you, along perhaps with the number for a £10 burner phone so people can call her if they so wish, help matters at all?
If it's someone doing it deliberately, have they got it into their head she's not a "genuine" visitor, and is toddling off to the local shops or something?
Would the simple act of putting a whiteboard on the dash with "visiting number 12" or what have you, along perhaps with the number for a £10 burner phone so people can call her if they so wish, help matters at all?
If it's someone doing it deliberately, have they got it into their head she's not a "genuine" visitor, and is toddling off to the local shops or something?
Thanks for all the thoughts and advice, I'm looking at the Black Vue cameras hard wired.
I've discounted building sites etc although I hadn't considered hairdresser wars! at the prices she charges I can't believe there's much worth fighting over but I guess you never know.
She's currently looking hard under the tyre surface and the road in close proximity before she drives, I'm thinking that the screw or screws are being placed close to the tyre rather than actually pushed in but of course I may be wrong.
I'll update if anything comes to light.
I've discounted building sites etc although I hadn't considered hairdresser wars! at the prices she charges I can't believe there's much worth fighting over but I guess you never know.
She's currently looking hard under the tyre surface and the road in close proximity before she drives, I'm thinking that the screw or screws are being placed close to the tyre rather than actually pushed in but of course I may be wrong.
I'll update if anything comes to light.
Just a thought, if she does use a gravel drive (esp one not used by the old dear who owns it), might be worth running a sweeper magnet over it?
Just any cheap wide ferrite magnet, fiver should be enough. Put it in a plastic pot so you can easily remove the klingons. Rub it round the gravel, see what you get. Cheaper than a dashcam...
Just any cheap wide ferrite magnet, fiver should be enough. Put it in a plastic pot so you can easily remove the klingons. Rub it round the gravel, see what you get. Cheaper than a dashcam...
I'd agree re the thoughts on a gravel driveway. I have one and despite asking builders to be careful, and i know they were because they were careful with jyst about everything, i collected around 50 nails and screws up to two years after the building work was completed. Fortunately no punctures, but that was blind luck. Gravel driveways throw up nails etc for a long while.
2007 I was working at a distribution centre in Manchester
Once a week one of the managers would get 2 agency staff, give them a dust pan, yard brush and bin each and they where to brush the whole yards
Took 1/2 a day
Any hoo
Said Manager went on to pastures new and they cancelled the weekly yard sweep
Next thing you know punctures galore across the board on cars, vans and trucks
Reason why figured out and the weekly yard sweep was reintroduced
Once a week one of the managers would get 2 agency staff, give them a dust pan, yard brush and bin each and they where to brush the whole yards
Took 1/2 a day
Any hoo
Said Manager went on to pastures new and they cancelled the weekly yard sweep
Next thing you know punctures galore across the board on cars, vans and trucks
Reason why figured out and the weekly yard sweep was reintroduced
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