If you’re reading this but are interested in real surveillance equipment such as a genuine wireless security camera system, don’t go hitting the next button just yet. While this article is about fake security cameras it is definitely appropriate reading for you. Why? Because many of the same principles and rules that apply to the appropriate installation of real cameras apply to the installation of fake security cameras.
I know, I’ve deviated a bit from the usual fare covering wireless surveillance cameras. I’ll be getting back to those soon, I promise, but I’m going to finish devoting time to fake security cameras this month as they are an affordable alternative. Some folks just balk at the price of wireless security cameras despite they convenience they offer. Ok, back to the phonies.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have past security experience. I’ve done my fair share of consultations and seen my fair share of installations done right and installations done wrong. I’ll be drawing on that experience to help you get the most out of the installation of your dummy cameras to ensure they do the best job they can at deterring crime.
Make sure your fake security camera looks real
Investing in a fake security camera is an inexpensive undertaking. For the same amount you’d spend buying your family dinner at a diner, you can make your home or business look like a well protected fortress. But just because there are cheap fake cameras out there doesn’t mean you should look for bargains. A fake camera that LOOKS fake is no deterrent at all. You’re already saving money by opting for fake security cameras. Don’t pinch so many pennies that it fails completely at its job.
Make sure your fake security camera looks appropriate
In polar opposition to that first piece of advice, don’t go too far the other way. Mounting 4 or 5 cameras that mimic high-end, IR capable models around your humble little home might make it look like a fortress to an amateur, but a criminal with any experience or intelligence is going to immediately wonder why you’d bother with such a sophisticated system for such a humble dwelling. They’ll either find themselves enticed by what you might be protecting or recognize right away that the outdoor security cameras you’ve installed just don’t fit in the scene. That will lead them to the conclusion that they’re probably fake which defeats the only real security benefit they offer.
Keep your fake security cameras out of reach
I consulted on one home’s security setup a few years back. The homeowner was particularly proud of his self-installed residential security cameras. These were the real thing. His bubble was well and truly busted when I simply walked into his neighbor’s back yard, slightly elevated relative to his, and reached over the fence to cover the camera lens with my hand.
Even if your fake security cameras do the job of tricking a would-be criminal into thinking they are real, they won’t do you a bit of good if traditional methods for defeating a real camera can be applied. Mount your cameras out of reach or lose whatever benefit you might be getting.
Try to defeat your own security camera system
Pretend your cameras are real and then stand back and think about how you would defeat them. While a criminal may have the benefit of experience, you have the benefit of time. Nobody is going to call the cops if they see you sneaking around your own property trying to get past your own system.
What you’re looking for are routes or paths to access points into your home that keep you out of your fake camera’s presumed line of site. If you can sneak behind your camera to a door or window, a criminal will conclude (and possibly attempt) the same.
An invisible fake security camera is useless
Keeping a real surveillance camera out of sight is fine if you have no intention of deterring criminals and just want to catch them in the act. But nobody wants that. The benefit of security cameras, real or fake, is that the tend to turn away criminals before they even bother trying to break into your property.
Since your fake cameras won’t record a darn thing, you want them installed in clearly visible locations. They should be clear to anybody performing even a cursory investigation of your property. In addition to their being visible, call attention to the fact (illusion) that your property is protected by cameras with the installation of yard signs and window stickers.
Remember that fake security cameras are only deterrents. It is your job to make them look real, appropriate and professionally installed. Failing to do so means a criminal will actually try to defeat them or will recognize them as artificial.