Perform a Google searchfor home security equipment and you will find a ton of information about wireless security cameras. Consumers love them. So do manufacturers, retailers, smart home and home security providers, and even local police departments. You would be hard pressed to find in modern security system that did not include at least one or two cameras.
Needless to say, home security has moved beyond mere window and door sensors. Those sensors still play a vital role in preventing burglary and home invasion, but nothing is quite as effective as video surveillance at keeping the bad guys away.
In case you haven’t figured it out, here is the number one reason property owners love security cameras: they work. It is no more complicated than that. We consumers appreciate anything that does what it’s supposed to do. We love things that work out-of-the-box. Your modern wireless security camera does just that.
1. Video Cameras as Deterrents
Video cameras provide two functions as security against burglaries and home invasions. The first function is deterrence. Think about it. If you were a burglar getting ready to break into a home, you would probably have second thoughts upon noticing a security camera watching everything you do. Multiple surveys among professional burglars over the years have proven how much they dislike cameras.
That explains why an in-depth Vivint blog post discussing home video cameras says that more than 76% of homes equipped with video cameras have at least one camera monitoring the front door. The front door is the most utilized entry point for burglars because it is the easiest to breach. Therefore, you would expect security companies to emphasize video surveillance at that particular point.
Other common locations for exterior video cameras include the back door, front and back yards, and the garage. People willing to invest in enough cameras can completely surveil the entire exterior of their properties simultaneously. That is the way to go if you can afford it.
2. Video Cameras for Evidence
Video cameras are excellent deterrents to burglars, home invasion, and car break-ins. But they also perform a second home security function: providing valuable evidence. Let’s face it, there are times when criminals aren’t deterred by video surveillance. There are other times when criminals do what they do, not knowing they are being surveilled. The net effect is the same in both cases.
Video surveillance produces evidence. It produces valuable data that police investigators can utilize in hunting down criminals. And where video evidence is admissible in court, it can be used to prosecute suspects. It is pretty hard for a burglar to deny their guilt when surveillance video shows them committing the crime!
Savvy criminals know enough to cover their faces. Fortunately for property owners, most criminals do not think that far ahead. They commit crimes by seizing the moment. And because they are not prepared with face coverings, well placed video cameras make it easier to identify them.
3. Video Surveillance Data
Property owners need to consider a variety of things before investing in video cameras. Among them is how video surveillance data is captured, recorded, and stored. Property owners can spend a little on self-contained cameras or a little more on wireless devices with cloud storage.
A self-contained camera is not wirelessly connected to an outside network. It utilizes its own electronics to capture and record data, storing that data on a removable drive or data card. The system works, but it is rather inconvenient. Property owners need to remember to regularly download and save data if they want it. Otherwise, old data gets overwritten when the drive or data card is full.
A wireless camera connected to a cloud server sends all recorded data to that server. That’s where it’s stored. This arrangement is a bit more advantageous in that storage capacity tends to be much greater. In addition, a property owner doesn’t have to physically go to the camera to retrieve data. They simply logonto the remote server with a smartphone or computer where video feeds can be reviewed and downloaded.
4. Why People Invest in Cameras
We know that property owners love video cameras because they work. But what is it that they are trying to accomplish? Right off the bat, we expect property owners with security systems to invest in cameras as a way of preventing burglary and home invasion. Simple enough. But are there other reasons? Absolutely. Here are just a few:
- Stopping Porch Piracy – With porch piracy being so pervasive these days, people are looking to their video cameras and video doorbells to put a stop to it. Video doorbells are especially attractive because they allow for two-way communication.
- Watching the Neighborhood – The concept of neighbors watching out for one another is alive and well. In the video camera era, homeowners are doing their part by monitoring the areas in front of their homes. Doing so benefits everyone on the street.
- Watching the Kids – Wireless video cameras are an invaluable tool for keeping an eye on the kids when mom and dad are not home. The security it offers works both ways. Not only can parents keep an eye on their kids, but the kids can also alert their parents if they have a problem.
- Watching Others – Although homeowners don’t necessarily invest in video cameras to keep an eye on other people, being able to do so is an added benefit. Some use video surveillance to keep track of the babysitter. Others keep an eye on contractors working inside their homes.
There are plenty of other reasons people invest in video cameras. They bring so much to the table that it’s hard to quantify their value from a safety and security standpoint.
Video cameras are simple in principle, even if complicated in terms of technology. People love them because they do exactly what they are supposed to do. They deter burglars, provide evidence in the event of a crime, and make it possible for people to monitor their homes for a variety of reasons. It is all good.