The fact that crime occurs disproportionately in less affluent neighborhoods has given rise to a vicious irony: the people most in need of additional security for their homes are very often those least able to afford it. Closed circuit TV equipment and other such security devices do not come cheap. Fortunately, a number of companies have responded to this need by producing fake outdoor security cameras that look and act just like the real thing but which sell for a fraction of the cost. Many of them are exact replicas of well known brand name models such as Panasonic. This article will look at the types and some of the pitfalls of fake outdoor security cameras.
Types of Fake Outdoor Security Camera
Broadly speaking, the types of fake outdoor security cameras mirror the varieties of the genuine article. A typical fake outdoor security camera is simply a real camera with the guts stripped out of it. It will usually have such features as motion sensors and blinking LEDs left in for the sake of appearances, and even cables that look as though they connect to equipment contained inside the building. No such equipment exists, of course, but potential burglars don’t know that.
The two main types of security camera are box housing and dome housing. A box housed camera resembles one of the speed cameras that you sometimes see out on the streets to deter speeding motorists. It is fairly bulky and highly visible. Night vision outdoor security cameras usually fall into this category. Dome housed cameras are smaller and more discreet. As their name suggests, they are dome shaped, a little like a snow globe. The base of the dome affixes to a flat surface such as the underside of a porch. A real life dome camera, whilst not being as visible as a box camera, provides a wider field of vision.
Potential Pitfalls of Installing a Fake Outdoor Security Camera
We have briefly discussed the cost advantage of installing a fake outdoor security camera. So, why would anybody shell out the extra cash for a real camera? After all, a potential housebreaker won’t know the difference, right?
Well, several reasons. The biggest one is potential legal liability. This is not really an issue for homeowners, but when it comes to providing security for business premises, it is crucial. Some businesses are required by law to provide a certain level of security for their staff and customers, and providing only fake outdoor security cameras could be in violation of that law. It could also be a problem if law enforcement asks you to provide security tapes to assist in the prosecution of a crime.
The latter possibility brings us onto another concern, that of the deception being unmasked. If word got out to the criminal community that your property only had a fake outdoor security camera, it could make it a target for break-ins. In conclusion, then, fake outdoor security cameras provide a low cost solution to security concerns – but only up to a point.