Someone keeps coming up to my property, and it’s really scaring me. At first, they were just stealing packages, but now they’re getting closer to my backdoor. I have cameras in the driveway pointing both ways, but they aren’t picking up anything at night because the license plate light (not sure what it’s called) is way too bright for my cameras (they came by after dark last night). So, here’s my question: is there any way to fix this issue (the cameras I have right now are Reveal cameras—good for daytime, not so much at night)? I really need to get their plate number for the police if they come again. Anyone have any camera brand suggestions that won’t break the bank if I need to replace them? I really don’t want this to escalate, and every time they come closer to my home, it gets more concerning. I have self-defense methods if they try to get in, but I’d rather get the plate number and call the cops if I can. Any advice on what cameras to use or how to fix this light issue?
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Cael said:
[deleted]
This ^
- PoE cameras
- 1/1.8" image sensor or larger
- True optical zoom
- Real WDR (not fake HDR)
Get flood lights with sensors. You want to light up the area around your home like a ballpark. On Amazon, there are a lot of outdoor cameras you can attach anywhere, and they’re very small. Place a few near where the car enters your property. The camera should send you an alert if it detects motion. Or you could get a driveway sensor that goes on a tree or mailbox and alerts you when the beam is broken. If your flood lights work right, you’ll have time to see the car, and your cameras should record it. Even just knowing the make, model, and color can help the police. But if the camera’s placed right, it should also capture the license plate. Be sure you have good door locks, and think about buying a FlipLock to stop someone from kicking your door in. Might be worth getting a dog too. German Shepherds are great guard dogs. Amazon also sells signs you can put around your property or on your door saying your place is protected by a gun. You don’t actually need a gun to say that. Basically, bright lights and cameras are your friends.
@Wren
“Protected by a gun” means “there’s a gun in this house.” It can have both good and bad effects.
Adrian said:
@Wren
“Protected by a gun” means “there’s a gun in this house.” It can have both good and bad effects.
The sheriff I spoke with said not to announce my home protection stuff like ‘gun/camera/dog’ signs. Just a ‘no trespassing’ sign is enough for trespassers, according to him. Was that the right advice, or should I be putting up those signs just in case?
Motion-activated flood lights and multiple cameras.
I’m not sure what steps you’ve already taken, but threats to your safety could either end with someone hurt or in jail.
Really obvious lights and cameras can act as a good deterrent.
Hide in the darkness with a clown mask and a bat. Wait until they show up again. Profit.
Sorrell said:
Hide in the darkness with a clown mask and a bat. Wait until they show up again. Profit.
Profit how?
Or are you a prophet waiting in the darkness? 
Sorrell said:
Hide in the darkness with a clown mask and a bat. Wait until they show up again. Profit.
Profit how?
Or are you a prophet waiting in the darkness?
Why not both?
Big dogs with loud barks. We’ve got a Cane Corso and a Staffie mix, and I’ve never seen people run faster than when those two start barking.
Noor said:
Big dogs with loud barks. We’ve got a Cane Corso and a Staffie mix, and I’ve never seen people run faster than when those two start barking.
Yep, they’re definitely great to have around. I’ve got a St. Bernard who’s more like Kujo than Beethoven, and a Great Pyrenees mix. Both are super protective of me and the house, but I’d prefer not to put them or myself at risk dealing with this situation. Plus, geese that scream at anything out of the ordinary—or at people in general—are a great alarm system.
Noor said:
Big dogs with loud barks. We’ve got a Cane Corso and a Staffie mix, and I’ve never seen people run faster than when those two start barking.
Or at least a loud recording of a dog barking that sounds real!
You need an LPR or ANPR camera to read license plates at night. There’s no other way, unless the car turns off its lights or parks close, and you have a good color night vision camera (like a quality IP/PoE 8MP camera can read plates from a distance, for example, Reolink can do that, or Dahua, Hikvision Darkfighter/ColorVu, etc.) with good lighting. A close camera with 4MP can work too.
The cheapest camera that will actually let you read plates on moving cars at night would be the IPC-B52IR-Z12E S2 or the Dahua/Hikvision equivalent. Note that these cameras are designed specifically for reading license plates, so you’ll need to zoom in on the plates.
@Morgan
Looks like you accidentally posted the URL for the camera, but still, good advice. 
Adi said:
@Morgan
Looks like you accidentally posted the URL for the camera, but still, good advice.
Yeah, I accidentally copied the camera’s name with a URL embedded in it. My bad.
@Morgan
All good, happens to the best of us.