Fake cameras. It’s crazy, but it’s true. Some people entrust their home protection to fake security cameras—an empty camera body designed to mimic a video monitoring solution. When a burglar spots your dummy camera—complete with blinking, battery-powered red light if you spring for the high-end $20 model, they head for the hills…or so the story goes.
Fake Security Cameras
Does it work? It’s a home security urban legend with a grain of truth. This just might fool a novice burglar, although experienced crooks can quickly spot a fake. When this cheap trick fails, though, what’s left to protect your home? After all, there’s a whole lot that a fake camera can’t do.
1. Fake Security Cameras Can’t Show You Important Activity
Take this everyday scenario: While you’re at work, someone walks up to your front porch. Here’s how it might go with a real camera, and with a fake one.
Real Security Camera: With a true security camera powered by Alarm.com, you’ll be notified. The visitor’s motion triggers your camera to record a clip, and Alarm.com sends you a smartphone alert. On opening the alert, you can pull up a live feed from your camera on your Alarm.com app and see what’s happening.
Now you can take action. You can call your spouse if they’re home and let them know. You can zoom in on the video feed for a better look at the visitor’s face. If your camera is a doorbell camera, you can address them directly through the camera’s speaker and ask them: hey, what’s up? If it’s someone you’re expecting, you can unlock your door for them.
Fake Security Camera: With a fake camera, none of the above applies.
2. Fake Cameras Can’t Help You Catch a Crook
Let’s say that your suspicious visitor really is up to no good. In fact, they’re a package thief, and they make off with a parcel you just had delivered to your porch.
Real Security Camera: We’re sorry about your missing package. Your Alarm.com-powered camera supplies a silver lining for you and your neighbors: a clear video clip of the thief in action. It’s easy to download to your phone and email it to your local police department or newspaper. You can even post it directly to Facebook to share with your neighborhood groups.
Your video clip can quickly become a crime-fighting asset that gives police the breakthrough they need to recognize and catch the thief.
ONIT Smart Home has a great solution to package theft with Skybell cameras.
Fake Security Camera: You’ll still realize your package went missing—after a couple of days, at least.
3. Fake Cameras Aren’t Connected to a Security System
Let’s look at the worst-case scenario. Your suspicious visitor is a daytime burglar intent on forcing your front door open, camera or no.
Real Security Camera: This burglar quickly discovers that your camera is connected to your smart security system. As well as recording them, your Alarm.com technology is simultaneously sounding a loud alarm, sending alarm notifications to you and your family, and delivering an emergency signal to a security professional at a 24-hour monitoring station.
Fake Security Camera: You’re going to have a terrible surprise when you get home.
4. Fake Cameras Can’t Show You Anything at All
Not everything that happens on your porch is an attempted burglary. On any given day, you’re far more likely to have a package delivered, to have a neighbor visit, or to have your kids arrive home from school. Being able to see what’s going on makes everything easier and reduces everyday worries.
This is how millions of Alarm.com-powered cameras are used every day, and it’s what many users love most about their smart security systems. With a fake camera, you don’t get any of this.
Get Real Security With Real Security Equipment
Home security is more than smart home automation, or installing a security surveillance camera system. It’s also about having professional monitoring services you can trust to provide your space with 24/7 monitoring. When suspicious activity happens, we’ll take meaningful actions to keep your home secure.
ONIT works with industry-leading equipment that’s designed to help you keep an eye on your home from anywhere. From motion sensors to REAL security cameras, we have just what you need to start securing your home.
To learn more about how to protect your home, request a free quote or call today: 1-833-433-0331.