sick of my neighbor

My neighbor has installed a hidden video camera and is taping me in front of my house, in my garage, side of my house and on my back balcony. How can I block his camera? I live in Los Angeles, so please don't suggest I call the police...we don't have a police department.

I actually finally got the police to make him take it down, but the problem is, he put it up somewhere else. I did manage to take a photo at night, where my entire screen was dark, except for the infrared. That was my proof. I've decided to move away. Life is too short for a bully to be part of mine.

OK...the video will not lie. I have a Q-See with hard drive, but have a wireless Swann hooked up. Yesterday, my neighbor took a plastic trash can and shoved it into the side of my car. I saw it from inside my house. I don't know how to get it from the HD on my Q-See monitor to a DVD. Do I need to bring the monitor somewhere to have it transferred or can I do this on my Mac or PC? Thank you.

Ahhhh kensplace, I wish I didn't what know what a prescriptive easement or TRO was. TRO=Temporary Restraining Order Prescriptive Easement and Implied Easement=Rights to do something on someone's elses property. In my case, drive across his property to get to my garage. I also have a Community Driveway Addendum, which give me normal driveway rights, like washing my car, parking, etc. My problem is that my neighbor never recognized or respected any of these. He is a bully, which makes him waco. He treats this like a game. His Attorney is just as bad. The guy basically wants me gone and he will go to any extent to damage my physical and real property to get what he wants. I do have a camera, but the law is, no front yard expectation of privacy, but side and back yard off limits. The City Attorney and Police told me to put one in. It is to video my car and he knows it. He has no front yard coverage of his property, just my side yard and back balcony. I'm not going to break the law, because if this goes to court, he will show the judge that I have recorded him also. I may not have mentioned that he tapped into my wireless camera, much to my horror.

I'm going to work with my Senior Lead Officer next week. I'm going to replace my light above my garage with a very powerful spot. It's not the front yard that I'm worried about, although I do have some of my business product in my garage and keeping the door closed from now on, will be something I'll have to do. It's my back balcony that I'm most bummed about. I have a beautiful hill and like to spend time out there. This guy is a narcissist and really scary.

p.s. I'm a 'mam...my bully is really a wimp when he picks on girls.

I've been in court with this guy for the last 5 years. He doesn't understands easements and basically wants me to move so that he can eliminate a prescriptive easement. He has cut my car tire, broken my tailight, slashed my convertible roof, blocked my entry to my garage, etc. This video thing is the latest. I had a TRO against him for a year and then my Attorney forgot to renew it. What he's trying to do is harass me so that I will retailiate against him and I just won't do that. I'll depend on the court system to fight this and try to get as much of my $50,000 legal fees back and then I'll move, but I just cannot pick up and go. I'm a licensed realtor, so I could find another home, but my present home is perfect for me (except for the harassment).

Gee, why didn't I think of that? I'll pack up 20 years worth of my life and improvements on my house and uproot my entire life because a bully moved in next door to me. Great solution...this reminds me why I stay single.

Yes...mirrors make sense. I'll buy my spotlight tomorrow. A mirror will be easy.

Actually, this is just another way of his harassing me. I also have a camera, but it is on my car and driveway. And I have a sign posted. I have a garage that empties out diagonally and that's how he can see the inside of my garage, but he doesn't have the camera focused to the street, just to the side only on my property. I really don't care if he tapes me in the front yard, but my back balcony should be private. I haven't done anything to him, but the city attorney recommended a camera to me for 2 years, until I finally gave in. I don't have anything to hide, but I feel creepy around my own house. I'm going to hire someone to find out if there are other cameras, in addition to audio. Audio is against the law in California without permission. I'm thinking that I might put up a spotlight and just shine it in the camera. I noticed it when I saw a tin can on his patio with a cord coming from it. Then I could see the can cut out and then I saw the lens. This guy is so sneaky. I'm thinking of possibly filing for a TRO, but quite honestly, that won't necessarily stop him.

I've resigned myself to getting the Mace CAM68IR after some great suggestions from other Posters. Now I need a DVR. I want to be able to hook up to every TV in my house (six hookups). Do I need a monitor at all? I work on a Mac, but do have a PC, which is stuck away in a drawer. Maybe I could dig it out if that would help. Can I hook into my cable? My phone line, DSL? Can't I just use my TV's as my monitor? OK...now for the budget. Can I spend between $300-500 on a DVR?

Thank you Rory. So now I know that I won't get what I need from Mace. Perhaps custom is the way to go. I'll show my Installer your suggestions next week. The CAM68CIR will become fodder on Ebay, I guess. Thank you again.

I purchased a Mace 14MR Combo Monitor/DVR. It had a very noise fan, but we disconnected it because my Installer said it was not necessary for the hard drive. My error is that I purchased the Mace CAM68CIR, which is not nearly wide enough for my needs. I need a 90 degree angle. The camera, though, seems to be of great quality. I even had a conversation with the Mace Corporate Office before my purchase and was told it was a 60 degree range, which it is not. Does anyone have a suggestion for a 90 degree camera that will do the job for me?

Yes Rory...your photos look exactly like what I would like to see. The only way that I can legally see what I need to see is to cover my driveway and car and then the spillover, which will be my neighbor's driveway would be bonus, according to the police. How do I buy one of these setups if it's hard to find?

Oh I agree...never mess than anyone's personal property...no matter what! I was the victim of vandalism when my neighbor didn't want my car parked in front of my garage, so he slashed my convertible roof, so I'm very sensitive to this subject. I blame the City's Planning Department and Streets for allowing these situations to get out of hand. I know in L.A., that you can get a building permit with no driveway parking, as long as you have 2 spaces in your garage to park. That may be law, but it's not reality. One of the problems to vehicles parked permanently on the streets is the inability for the street sweeper to clean the streets and children playing in between cars creates a safety hazard. That and the fact that no one wants to see your second home parked in your driveway. Now I'm thankful that I live in the hills where there is no parking...I think. I didn't want to sound condescending to the original Poster, but want to possible point out another solution to his problem. When you attempt to get help from the Police in L.A., they remind you that this is Civil and they are only 'peace' Officers...HAH!

I don't have a camera suggestion, but am wondering if one of your neighbors vandalized your van? You look like you have a used car lot on your premises that spills out onto the street. The RV in your driveway with the SUV would have been enough to send anyone in my neighborhood over the edge, if anyone had parked that many vehicles in plain site. Then to use the street for the remainder of the vehicles is just plain taking down the integrity of the neighborhood. I hope you find your culprit...vandalism is never the answer. But taking into consideration what other people have to look at is also being a good neighbor.

Good advice. I'm a huge Ebay fan, but would not buy anything like this on auction. I don't own a gun and don't have dogs. I'm not worried about the psycho next door breaking into my house or hurting me (although if you asked my friends and family, they would differ)...I'm only concerned about the 'little' things he does...like slashing the roof of my convertible, flattening my car tires and smashing my taillight, in addition to killing a tarantula and tossing it in front of my front door and throwing large tree branches in front of my car so I drive over them without seeing them...nice guy huh? A camera will see this and help the police in making an arrest. A TRO does nothing.

I have a serious neighbor problem and it was suggested to me by the police, City Attorney's office, Attorney, friends, etc. to buy a surveillance system...so here I am. I met with someone last week who quoted me a 2 camera DVR system that would work on my TV or computer. But I have a Mac and no PC, so that's out for the computer use. He didn't give me a Manufacturer and when I phoned him for the info., I found out that it was Powertech and they are made in Korea. So I'm back to square one. I would prefer nothing from Korea or China. I need a weatherproof camera with a wider angle lens to view my driveway and car. I need IR and would like color. The DVR can hook up in my garage into my cable? It would be great if I could view this on all of my TV's in my house. I would like to have at least 3 weeks digital recording. As long as I'm going to all of this work and expense, I might as well put a camera outside my front door and perhaps add a camera on the street and my back yard. Can I find a decent camera for about $150.? Can I find a decent DVR for under $500. I'm not crazy about this and don't want to live my life this way, but have a neighbor who has already destroyed my convertible and while I have a TRO in place, I'd like to see what's going on. He's scary. I live in the SF Valley of L.A. and if anyone knows of a great Installer, please feel free to let me know. I found a CANTEK 350BC NIGHT VISION COLOR CCD CAMERA that looks interesting...what do you think Experts? I don't want to make any mistakes. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated and investigated thoroughly. p.s. I've read some other posts and responses where claims were made that you can't get a decent system for under $2000 and that the Poster doesn't do work for under $6000. Please don't bother responding to me then, because this is for a residence, not a business and I'm not going to spend $6000 for a system. I am looking for some answers, not input as to how cheap I am...I'm only asking questions because the estimate I got last week was for $150. cameras and $500. DVR. I'm here for advise, not abuse...thank you. sick of my neighbor

Bingo! This is the missing link I was looking for. And I have options to boot. Thank you so much Rory!

Good suggestion. I spoke with the people at Mace and they suggested that I buy 'channels plus'? They said ADI had it. Can't find either on Google. I intend on buying a stand alone as your suggested and hope to find a good alternative to the CAM68IR, since I heard that they should not be installed on the side of a house because of weather.

Thank you cctvgeeknz! I've spent the evening checking out cameras and am thinking that the Mace CAM68CIR might be good for me. I even have the perfect place for it so that it will not be noticeable. I have no overhangs, so I may have to pick another camera for the other locations. Believe me, the camera will pick up the person I'm keeping an eye on and he will be recognizable, because he walks from his house to mine. Now I have to pick a DVR. I want to be able to watch on every TV in my house. Since I'm on a Mac, I won't be able to watch on a PC. Thank you for all the great advice...I definately don't want to clean the floor with a toothbrush...

I'm checking out all the camera selections that were made to me. I got lucky because my roofing salesperson used to install cameras for the nsa. He is going to install them for me. I live on a steep hill and only need to cover the driveway and up my front stairs. If this guy is desperate enough to climb the hill, then I'll have a camera in back also, but it's illegal to put a camera except in your front yard...where no one has an expectation of privacy (police told me). I'm hoping to hook up to all the TV's in my house so I can keep an eye on the situation all the time.

Good to know Thomas...thank you. I'm not worried about theft, just continued vandalism from my neighbor. The coverage distance is also important and of course a Manufacturer wouldn't spend QA money on something that probably doesn't sell well. I guess I'll have to suck it up and spend the money, because I need to end this nightmare I've been living through.

Good suggestions. I don't need to recognize people, because I know who to look for, but the IR is important. Some of the images that you all have posted on this forum are extremely impressive and while I have a vapor light on my driveway now, I'm very sure that I will get what I need. I just don't want the equipment to break down. I don't really have a budget, I never scrimp on important purchases, but $6000. or even $3000. is not realistic for me. I'm definately hiring someone to provide the full service to me and not hand the installer something I bought on the internet. My attorney told me to move...

Thank you so much. I'll check into it.