Car theft from driveways and catalytic converter theft can happen fast, and it often happens at night. If you want better deterrence and better evidence, a driveway CCTV installation is one of the most practical upgrades you can make, especially when it’s designed around vehicles, lighting, and entry points.

At Third Eye Installation Systems, we install CCTV for homes across North London, including Barnet, with systems that are built for real-world use: clear footage, easy playback, and a sensible support route.

Driveway CCTV Installation: What You’re Protecting Against

Most driveway-focused enquiries come down to a few common scenarios:

  • Vehicle theft from the driveway (including keyless entry theft)
  • Catalytic converter theft (often quick, targeted, and late at night)
  • Attempted break-ins to sheds/garages, then moving onto the car
  • Suspicious activity around the front boundary, side access, or rear alley

The goal is simple: capture faces, clothing, vehicle details, and a usable timeline, not just a blurry clip that confirms “something happened”.

Keyless Car Theft: A Quick Reminder That Helps

If your car uses keyless entry, criminals may try to exploit that signal. A few small habits can reduce your risk:

  • Keep keys well away from the front door, ideally in the middle of the house
  • Use a signal-blocking pouch (Faraday pouch) for car keys
  • Consider disabling keyless entry (if your vehicle allows it)
  • Park strategically: if possible, block the car in with another vehicle

CCTV supports these steps, but it works best alongside them.

Hikvision Cameras for Driveways: The Features That Matter

Third Eye Installation Systems mostly uses Hikvision cameras for CCTV because the range is strong for driveway detection, night performance, and searchability. Two technologies are especially relevant for vehicle protection:

Hikvision AcuSense (smarter alerts, less noise)

If you want alerts that are actually useful, AcuSense helps by focusing on the events you care about.

Best for:

  • Driveways where you want alerts for people and vehicles, not every tree shadow

Typical benefits:

  • Better filtering of events
  • Easier searching when reviewing footage
  • Fewer false notifications

Hikvision ColorVu (better colour at night)

Night footage is where many systems fall down. ColorVu is designed to capture full-colour details in very low light.

Best for:

  • Driveways with limited lighting
  • Situations where colour detail matters (clothing, vehicle colour)

Where Cameras Should Go for Clear Evidence

A good driveway setup is about angles and height, not “more cameras”.

Typical best-practice coverage includes:

  • Front driveway view for approach and vehicle activity
  • Front door/ porch view (faces, deliveries, callers)
  • Side access/ gate line (common route for intruders)
  • Garage/ outbuilding view if it’s on the driveway line

Key tip: you usually want at least one camera positioned to get a face-level angle (not only a high, top-down view).

Pair CCTV With an Intruder Alarm for Proper Coverage

CCTV is excellent for deterrence and evidence. An intruder alarm installation is excellent for immediate detection and a clear “something is happening now” trigger.

Third Eye Installation Systems mostly uses Pyronix for intruder alarms because it’s a trusted, widely supported platform that suits professional installation and long-term maintenance.

A simple layered approach often looks like this:

  • Hikvision CCTV covering driveway + access routes
  • Pyronix intruder alarm covering entry points and internal detection
  • Clear handover and user guidance, so you actually use it day-to-day

A Driveway CCTV Installation That’s Set Up Properly

If you’re serious about protecting your vehicle and home, a driveway CCTV installation should be planned around real risks: keyless theft, night-time activity, and the routes intruders actually use. With the right Hikvision camera features and sensible positioning, you get clearer footage, easier playback, and far better deterrence.

If you’d like help choosing the right setup, contact Third Eye Installation Systems for a driveway CCTV installation and a straightforward, no-pressure recommendation.