You would have to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for a security camera that will record someone's face or even come close to a clarly displayed license plate number from a long distance. The average security camera you see in retail stores like Fry's Electronics cost anywhere from $49.95 up to maybe $1500, more likey several hundreds of dollars. There will be a 'recording clarity' increase from a say $99 Swann infra-red unit to a more expensive, better specification $299 camera. But, you are still going to have to position that camera within 20 feet or less to get their face on that tape or DVD clearly. Two weeks ago some punks stuck a knife in one of our clients tires while parked on the back lot. After school. The two were on the camera, but the back camera is under the roof's overhang at the tallest point of the building. I didn't bother to call police and give them the tape. They couldn't see their face (but one officer may recognize the from the neighborhood or something). She took the tape to police. I'll see how that goes. Anyway, yeah $49 to $299 equals about 20 feet not much farther for the details.