Using a Dummy Security Camera
The whole point of a dummy security camera is to employ the scare tactic upon unsuspecting otherwise would-be violators of your property or privacy. A fake camera is a great low cost and low maintenance alternative to real security cameras. Most homes do not require nor have the provisions to install and monitor real security cameras. Installing a dummy security camera is a great solution for fake outdoor surveillance to stop burglar and intruders before they enter your home or business. There are multiple lines of defense and how far you go with your security system depends on your needs. An outdoor security camera creates doubt in a burglar’s mind which might be good enough for some situations such as most homes which by default have minimal security.
A dummy security camera can be used as part of a system of real security cameras in larger surveillance networks or it can be used to compliment other home security products. In home security, lighting security is a common strategy since it is effective enough for the needs of most homes. Imagine a burglar about to encroach on your illuminated property that is willing to risk walking through the lighted area but suddenly hears the whirring noise of a motion sensing dummy camera. Of course the burglar doesn’t know it’s a fake and decides it is not worth being caught breaking into a home on video surveillance.
Just as there are many different lighting security strategies, installing a dummy camera has it’s strategies as well. You want the camera to be visible since the camera offers little real protection. The best place to install a dummy camera is as an outdoor security camera. Put it in a well lit area so if they light is not enough to discourage would-be intruders, hopefully the presence of a camera is enough to convince the intruder to reconsider. It is a great compliment to home security solutions so it doesn’t have to get to the point where your alarm is tripped.
Motion sensing cameras are probably the best since they have built in motors that allow the camera to tilt and pan the area. This makes the camera appear very real. It will cost more but it is worth choosing over a plastic looking camera that is too small to be real. Installing the camera outdoor will require a camera housing or casing to protect it just as if it was a real camera. Just install the camera like you would a real one and hopefully that commands enough respect to keep intruders away.
Making the Most of a Fake Surveillance Camera
Why would anyone bother with a fake surveillance camera when there are real losses incurred due to vandalism and other malicious activity? The answer might seem obvious to many who would initially assume that the presence of a security camera is enough to deter most criminal behavior. Those who assume such rationale for installing a fake home surveillance camera are correct. It is a similar concept to installing lighting security to deter burglars. The important thing is that the camera is both obvious without revealing any tells that it is a dummy. There is a direct correlation between effectiveness of a fake surveillance cameras and how realistic it would appear to unassuming people.
There are a number of ways a camera can appear to be real when it is actually a fake. First of all, we do not want a something that looks like a cheap fake surveillance camera since that might make it detectable as a fake. Upon discovering that it is a fake, we can assume that criminals would be encouraged since the owner of the camera loses credibility. There is an assumption that someone using a fake camera probably is too cheap or ignorant to properly monitor and protect their property and therefore can easily be taken advantage off. The criminal will feel that they have such an imposter figured out and can get away with anything.
Many fake cameras do actually appear very much like a real camera and even act like one. Some have led lights that blink or turn on to indicate some recording activity is going on. Some use motion sensors to follow moving objects which work really well in scaring away unwanted strangers. The key is to keep it consistent with the rest of your security camera system if you have more than one camera.
Try mounting them the same way so that the fake cannot be detected. If it is an entire system of fakes, that is okay too. Simply install them exactly the same so it appears more legitimate. If you have a system of real cameras with visible cables, then make sure the fake has matching cables. Mount them the same way and try using the same housing if they are outdoor security cameras.
A combination of lighting security and fake video surveillance cameras will work wonders in many situations. Since lighting security works on the same principle of scaring away petty crime, adding some fake cameras into the mix will just up the ante that much more. Take that comparison into careful consideration, however. If what you are monitoring and protecting is not worth a real camera and lighting security is good enough, then fake security cameras are right for your situation. Otherwise, don’t gamble and hope that the fake camera is good enough. Usually, more valuable property will cost more to protect so don’t go cheap and use fake cameras when you really should be monitoring for real.
Maximizing Effectiveness of Fake Security Cameras
A system of outdoor security cameras can really be used to your advantage for marginal costs by selectively installing fake security cameras throughout your property. This is to take advantage of the idea that there are security cameras in the area and anyone with malicious intent will be on the lookout for a camera. They will try to perform their unruly activity somewhere where they believe is not under surveillance. Adding fake security cameras to your system will make people believe that more areas are being monitored than there really are.
Managing Risks
Of course, keep in mind that only low traffic areas or places where you do not have high vulnerabilities are candidates for fake cameras. You do not want to install a fake camera over something valuable that you cannot afford to have stolen or damaged. Ideally the current security cameras in the system are already monitoring high risk areas and the fake cameras are just extra. That is the premise of selective installation of fake cameras.
Another word of warning is not to use too many fake cameras because that increases the chances of it being discovered and the fallout could be worse than not have the fake surveillance cameras at all. In the mind of the offender, the integrity of your security system has been compromised and there is no respect for real cameras. They will think that it is fake just like the others and go on damaging or stealing things. So the question becomes how to make the fake security cameras appear real enough that no one would assume or question the validity of your monitoring system?
Fake Appearance
In a system of real cameras we want all cameras to appear real. This means that they look like real outdoor cameras built tough to withstand some physical stress. There are cheap flimsy plastic fake security cameras for sale that look like toys and will not make the cut. It might be enough to scare the cashier from taking money out of the register but a sophisticated burglar will know right away if the camera is too small or cheap looking.
The appearance is everything with a fake camera so if the current system has visible cameras, then it is a good idea to put up fake cameras in very visible places such as on a wall. If there are visible wires coming out of the camera, then make sure the fake camera has the same type of wires exposed. This should rarely be the case with outdoor security cameras in many situations because exposed wires are a very vulnerable weak point in the system.
Fake Security Camera with LED and Motion Sensors
Get a camera that matches the model of your real cameras. This means that if your real cameras have an LED light when powered on, you will want a fake security camera with LED lights that match your real live security cameras. If you use fixed position cameras, then you can get away with fixed fake cameras. Otherwise you will want a camera that matches the movement of your real camera. There are fake security cameras that have motion sensors to either turn on an LED or even follow the moving object. This can seem very real and scare most intruders.
Just make sure the fake security cameras look and act like the real cameras and install them in areas where the risk does not warrant the cost of buying and maintaining a real camera.