Tag Archive for: home surveillance cameras

Do Home Surveillance Cameras Really Deter Crime?

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Home surveillance cameras can deter crime, but no system is 100% failproof. A thief may still steal from your home if they don’t notice the camera or see it there but take the risk anyway. But home security cameras represent a multi-billion-dollar industry and the stats show why.

An estimated 1,401,840 home burglaries occurred in 2017, based on data in the 2017 FBI Uniform Crime Report.

There is a great deal of evidence that security cameras deter burglars. Some of the reports that indicate they do include:

  • University of North Carolina’s Department of Justice and Criminology: Of a pool of convicted burglars, 60% said they would start by looking for surveillance cameras; 40% said they’d find another target if cameras were present.

 

  • Electronic Security Association: Data collected from burglars suggest they’d abandon a break-in attempt if there were outdoor cameras, alarms, signs for alarms, or dogs inside a home, among other signs of security at a target property.

 

  • American Management Association: Its Workplace Monitoring and Surveillance report revealed that 82% of managers use some form of electronic monitoring, including security cameras, to protect the workplace against external and internal threats.

How to Boost the Effectiveness of Home Surveillance Cameras

To increase its effectiveness, a security camera must be properly set up. There are things you can do to decrease security risks or if you had a break-in and a surveillance camera was already installed in your home. First, enable push notifications, so you’ll receive instant alerts of any security issue. Also, check if your security system has motion detection recording and make sure this feature is working. Adjusting the sensitivity of motion sensing systems can boost your security as well.

Check the locations of your home surveillance cameras. There should be cameras at every main entrance and near windows or back doors a burglar might use to enter.

Home Surveillance Cameras Work

Law enforcement professionals agree that security cameras are a great way to deter crime. They can provide direct evidence of burglaries, vandalism, and armed robberies as well as employee theft, not to mention more serious offenses like murder. Cameras can deter both external and internal crime, so are effective whether installed outside a building or, for example, inside offices and building common areas.

Modern security camera systems can be connected to a network. If someone breaks into your home and you are away, you can receive an alert on your smartphone from the connected camera. You’ll also have footage of the event, which provides direct evidence of the incident that police can use.

In addition to crime deterrence and the evidence they provide, home surveillance cameras have other benefits. You may get a discount from an insurance company or homeowner’s association by installing one. A camera can also help prevent the theft of packages delivered to your front door. If you can prove theft occurred, you can be more likely to receive a refund or replacement for the stolen item.

Improve Home Security with Boyd & Associates

Video surveillance and other security solutions are available from Boyd & Associates. Our advanced systems include video analytics software that provides automatic alerts. Records of video footage can be searched, while live video can be seen and managed remotely from a smartphone, tablet, or web browser. For improved home security, we also provide advanced burglar alarm systems, alarm monitoring, and patrol and security services. To learn more about our solutions, call us at 805-321-6664.

Advantages of Surveillance Cameras

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Surveillance cameras, once associated with the security infrastructure of businesses, government buildings, parking garages, and other high-profile areas, have been popping up in many residential settings. These include both urban and suburban locations and in apartment buildings and single-family homes. Ease of installation and security monitoring services have made using home surveillance cameras and video systems more practical.

Here are some of the greatest advantages of installing a security camera in your home, and even your small business:

Deterrence of Criminal Activity

Real-world studies have found that security cameras and alarm systems affect a burglar’s decision on whether to move forward with their plan. In a 2013 UNC Charlotte study, half of convicted burglars said they would have left a home alone if it were under surveillance. But the effect of security cameras isn’t only on break-ins; they can reduce the theft of packages at the front door as well.

Surveillance cameras are effective when installed in individual homes, townhouses, bungalows, apartment buildings, and condominiums. But they can also protect schools and universities, stores, and shopping malls, as they’re effective at spotting vandals and shoplifters in the act.

Monitor Your Home from Anywhere

Many modern surveillance cameras can be monitored over the internet, even from a mobile device. This is useful when you’re away from home and want to keep tabs on your children or their babysitter. Smart doorbell cameras send alerts and video to your phone when the doorbell rings, so you can see who is at your front door and even communicate with them. You can also see whether packages were delivered, when your child returned home from school, or that they’re safe when you go out to dinner.

Gather Evidence

Security cameras are sophisticated devices in today’s world. They include clear images, video, and audio, so can provide just the evidence needed in a legal scenario. Whether in a legal setting or a dispute among employees or family members, the content of a video feed can help make the most appropriate decisions. Violence or harassment in the workplace and on college campuses can also be recorded so the facts of a case are apparent.

Reduced Insurance Costs

Installing a security camera and/or video surveillance system can reduce your insurance premiums. How much depends on the contract you signed with an insurance company. It helps to have a public record of installing such a system. Doing so protects insurers from fraudulent theft or robbery claims. For a business, whether office or home based, tax deductions can be made on a security system purchase.

Convenient Features

Today’s security camera systems are designed with features that enable you to get the most out of them. Some of these include:

  • Wide-angle lenses
  • Night vision
  • Two-way talk functions
  • Push notifications
  • Motion detection/activation
  • Package delivery alerts
  • Integration with smart locks/lighting
  • Mobile app monitoring/control
  • Playback of video from any time period

21st Century Home Surveillance Systems from Boyd & Associates

Boyd & Associates provides security cameras and other home automation systems for your protection. We can easily add cameras to your home security system, which record live HD video and deliver on-demand video clips to your smartphone. Alerts and notifications can be provided, while video can be monitored by our central station operators. We also provide outdoor and doorbell cameras as well as interior camera systems.

For information on these plus our alarm monitoring services, smart locks, and commercial access control systems, intrusion detection, and video surveillance, contact us today at 888-248-6617.