Some people have funny ideas about home security.
Certain homeowners, for example, boast about preventing burglaries with nothing more than a large Beware of the Doberman sign. Others park a pair of muddy size 14 boots outside the front door as a crime deterrent. Some will tell you to entrust your security to a fake security camera—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’ll quickly beat a retreat… or so the story goes.
Does it work?
It’s a home security urban legend with a grain of truth. A novice burglar might just be fooled, although experienced intruders can quickly spot a fake.
What you need to remember is when the cheap trick fails, what’s left to protect your home? After all, there’s a whole lot that a fake camera can’t do.
1: Fake cameras can’t show you important activity
Take this everyday scenario: While you’re at work, someone walks up to your front door. Here’s how it might go with a real camera, and with a fake one.
Real camera: With a Smartzone security camera, you’ll be notified. The visitor’s motion triggers your camera to record a clip, and we send you a smartphone alert. On opening the alert, you can pull up a live feed from your camera on your app and see what’s happening.
Now, you can take action. You can call your partner 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: ‘Hi, we can’t come to the door right now’ or ‘please leave immediately, you are being watched’ or ‘Hi Mum, give me a second and I’ll unlock the door for you and let you in’.
Fake camera: With a fake camera, none of the above applies.
2: Fake cameras can’t help you catch a burglar
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 front door.
Real camera: We’re sorry about your missing package. Your camera supplies a silver lining for you and your neighbours: a clear video clip of the thief in action.
It’s easy to download to your phone and email it to your local Garda station. You can even post it directly to Facebook to share with your neighbourhood groups if you so wish.
Your video clip can quickly become a crime-fighting asset that gives the Gardaí the breakthrough they may need to recognize and catch the thief.
PS: your Alarm.com service provider has a great solution to package theft or any other potential criminal activity on your doorstep.
Fake camera: You’ll still realize your package went missing—after a couple of days, at least and the criminal will have probably done a number of houses in your area at that point.
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 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 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 neighbours 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 are Smartzone camera’s 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.
Ready to keep it real?
We install your complete system including all security cameras that makes your home safer, smarter and more convenient.
The price for keeping your home and family safe is not as much as you think.
Contact us today and tell us about your specific requirements, set up a home assessment and give you a quote.
Call 0818 222 926 or 021 4966248
