Patent ID: 6940397

Claim:
A vehicle surveillance system, comprising: (a) means for recording a video image, said means including a video cassette recorder; (b) means for arming said system sufficient to enable the recording of said video image subsequent to the detection of an event; (c) means for detecting an intrusion into said vehicle; and wherein said means for recording a video image includes a video cassette recorder and a mounting cage that is adapted to receive said video cassette recorder, said mounting cage attached to said vehicle, and wherein said video cassette recorder includes an access door over an opening adapted to receive a video cassette tape, and wherein said access door includes a key lock and wherein said key lock includes a tab that is adapted to pass through an opening provided in said mounting cage when said video cassette recorder is disposed in said mounting cage and said key lock is urged into a locking position and wherein said tab is adapted to prevent both the removal of said video cassette recorder from said mounting cage and to also prevent the removal of said video cassette tape from said video cassette recorder; whereby a detection of an intrusion by said means for detecting an intrusion is adapted to provide said event sufficient to enable said system to record said video image.