There’s a bit of a debate on the benefit of illuminated LEDs in fake security cameras. Some people feel it lends the dummy camera the illusion of reality. Opponents disagree and feel the presence of a blinking LED on a fake security camera is actually a dead giveaway that it isn’t the real thing. Who is right? Sorry to say, they both are.
The truth is that your average real surveillance cameras don’t often sport lights. That’s a generalization, of course. The wireless surveillance camera keeping watch over my front porch actually does have an illuminated LED and it is definitely the real thing. But if you look around the places you work and shop, you’ll notice that the surveillance cameras you see tend to be both low key, unobtrusive and unlit by “notice-me” LEDs.
Does that mean you should avoid these cameras? Nope. Understanding the benefit to a fake security camera with a blinking LED will make clear why you actually should opt for this feature.
First, your average home burglar isn’t a genius. He is bold, brazen and a little bit desperate, sure. But a rocket scientist, he ain’t. How do I support that claim? If he were a brighter than average bulb he would either make an honest living or would be targeting far more lucrative pickings than the humble possessions in your home.
The majority of the people you’re trying to deter are not going to be savvy enough to distinguish your fake camera from a real one. As already mentioned, there is no way to know definitively if a camera is real or fake simply by noticing if it has a blinking LED or not. But, in order for your fake surveillance camera to do any good, it has to be noticed. That blinking LED may make the difference in that regard. Without it, a criminal with tunnel vision might walk right past your dummy cam and not even see it.
In the case of amateur criminals, the LED is actually a benefit because it at least presents the illusion of a powered camera. That leads to the natural assumption that this thing is plugged in and drawing power which further leads to the conclusion that it must be real.
So, ultimately, a blinking LED doesn’t definitively mark your camera as a fake. It does help a criminal notice your fake camera which is absolutely critical for it to do its job as a deterrent. But, what’s most critical is that your fake surveillance camera looks real and looks appropriate for the property it is protecting.
We’ll cover a few specific fake security cameras you might want to consider in our next post.