Category: Tips and Tricks

You know your home best, so you are uniquely qualified to evaluate how to keep it safe from intrusion.

Once you’ve decided on the locations of your cameras, you have to determine whether you’ll install your cameras where thieves can see them, to serve as a deterrent but where they can be easily broken–or if you should put them out of reach where they may hide from burgling eyes but will always catch the thief on video.

Install your real cameras out of reach (and possibly out of sight), and then place dummy cameras – the kind that look completely authentic, of course – around your property. That way, if a burglar does break one of your cameras, it’ll be an inexpensive dummy – and you’ll have a video of the act too.

Here are five spots you should always install a home surveillance camera:

1. Front Door

An estimated 34% of all burglars enter your home through the front door, so you’ll definitely want to train one of your surveillance cameras here. You can consider enclosing your front door camera in mesh wiring to protect it from errant rocks, sticks, or other weapons.

2. Back Door

Another 22% of home burglars enter through the back door, so you need a camera here, as well. The bottom line is, arm each entry door with a camera. Again, make the effort to place your camera out of the reach of human hands, or to protect it from projectiles, like rocks or sticks or anything an intruder might hurl at it.

3. Off-Street Windows

Burglars often enter a home by breaking a rear window. Get a jump on them and train a camera on any area of your home with windows that cannot be viewed from the street.

4. Backyard/Side Gate

Arm your yard with motion-sensor floodlights and a night vision surveillance camera to protect your home and belongings. If your backyard is fenced in, make sure your camera has a view of the entrance gate (or install a second camera there).

5. Basement Stairs

Place a camera on the stairs leading up from the basement to your home to record any wayward prowlers who sneak their way into your home via the subterranean route.

Before you buy your CCTV Security Camera, first you must do some research to ensure that you are buying the right security camera system for your situation. If you are not sure about this, then find a professional security camera installer to do the job.

Security Lighting

Another problem with any outside security camera installation is lighting, or the lack of it. If you want to record an area at night, you need to ensure the area is well lit. You can do this by installing additional security lighting. Alternatively, there are many cameras with low light level capabilities, or even infrared night vision capabilities.

Weather factors

A sturdy, durable protective cover is essential for an outdoor security camera installation.

Depending on the climate in your location, you may need to consider the temperature ranges your system will need to endure. Make sure the system you choose to install will work all year round in your climate.

Power outlets

The most common problem is the lack of access to a power source. If access to a power source is a challenge to your CCTV installation, you have several options. You can have power outlets installed near where you plan to install your cameras. Alternately, you can run hidden wiring into an outlet inside your garage. Or you can opt for a camera that draws power from a plug-in battery pack.