Most security experts agree that video surveillance cameras should serve as the backbone of any reliable home security system. Cameras enable homeowners and monitoring service providers to detect suspicious activity in and around your property on a 24/7 basis.
Cameras also act as a visible deterrent that can prevent intruders from attempting to break into a home. And recorded video feeds from the cameras can help law enforcement officials apprehend burglars and serve as evidence if a case goes to trial.
Tips for Protecting Your Security Cameras
It’s also true that some home intruders will attempt to disable security cameras by cutting cables, throwing rocks at them or even coating the lens with black spray paint. The following tips can help you “tamper-proof” your cameras:
- Mount them high: Placing your cameras approximately nine feet off the ground will make it more difficult for intruders to reach them or strike them with a thrown object. Just make sure that there are no ladders or other items outside that could allow a burglar to climb up and disable the camera.
- Keep them hidden: There are many ways you can conceal your cameras so that intruders won’t be able to see them — place them in birdhouses, trees, fake rocks or garden gnomes. If you choose to hide your cameras, consider installing a non-functioning “dummy” camera in a highly visible location such as above the front door to act as a deterrent.
- Go wireless: A wireless camera system does not have cables that burglars can cut. Going wireless also gives you more flexibility to place your cameras exactly where you need them.
- Install protective housing: Cage-like housing constructed with a durable plastic material is available to protect your security cameras from damage. Make sure you select a cage with a gap that is wide enough to prevent obscuring the camera’s field of vision.
- Add tamper detection: A tamper detection service will send an instant alert to your smartphone whenever someone tries to fiddle with your cameras. You can then use your phone to activate an alarm that will cause the intruder to flee.
- Consider purchasing vandal-proof cameras: You can buy high-quality IP cameras that will continue to function even if they incur damage by vandals or thieves. When combined with a reliable monitoring service, you may be able to notify law enforcement in time to catch the burglars in the act.
- Protect against hacking: In addition to physical damage, your surveillance cameras may also be susceptible to hacking if they’re part of a wireless network. Taking the same precautions as you do with your online bank accounts and credit cards — such as changing your password frequently – will minimize your risk.
Contact BSG for More Helpful Advice
As a leading home security solutions provider in San Antonio and Austin, TX, BSG can help you get the best results from your video surveillance system — including protecting your cameras against damage. Contact us to schedule a free in-home security consultation today.
