Fake it 'til you make it—that's what they say, right?
While this time-tested wisdom doesn't work for every situation, it could be your secret tool when it comes to home security.
Fake cameras can dissuade intruders from entering your home while staying at a low price point. They're easy to use and install, and with a fake camera you can spring for the latest "upgrades" at minimal extra cost.
We'll walk you through why you should consider fake cameras for your home:
1. Fake Cameras Get to What Really Deters Theft
A real security camera has the potential to prevent break-ins in a couple of ways.
One of those ways is indirect—if someone does break into your home, you can look through the footage and see if the person on tape is identifiable. If so, and if there's enough evidence from the tape that they did commit a crime, you can press charges and prevent them from coming back in the future. There's also a chance that word will get out that you've pressed charges, and this could be a deterrent to others in the future.
And then there's the more direct type of prevention. When a potential robber or porch pirate sees that you have cameras around your home, the sight alone can prevent them from entering.
Fake cameras won't help you with the first type of prevention, but they're an excellent decoy for the second one.
2. Accessible Pricing
A fake camera is much cheaper than a real camera, and this is one of the biggest reasons people go with the fakes. The cost of cameras can be too much for some homeowners and renters out there.
This doesn't have to mean you're 'taking the cheap route.' It can mean that you're looking out for your safety.
Rather than waiting until you have enough money and time to configure a real camera setup, you can get a fake camera and install it tomorrow! This means less time leaving your home seemingly unprotected, and more time with the peace of mind you deserve.
3. The Ultimate Disguise
If you think you can tell the difference between a real or fake security camera, you might need to take another look at what's on the market these days. Fake cameras have gotten so sophisticated in the past several years that they look like the real deal.
Keep in mind that if someone's trying to break into your house, they probably have other issues to worry about. Unless they have a special reason to rob your house in particular, the suggestion of a protected building should be enough to make them think twice.
4. Low Maintenance? Try No Maintenance
Home security tools can be expensive. Beyond the cost of the item itself, there's the maintenance and replacement of parts after these tools get some wear and tear.
The great thing about fake cameras, on the other hand, is that the only thing you need to care about is the look. There's no weather-proofing or upkeep necessary, and you won't need to worry about it malfunctioning.
The only time you'd need to do something would be if the camera looked visibly broken, and in that case, you can switch it for a replacement. It'll set you back about $6, and there's no reconfiguring to do.
If you're the kind of person who falls behind on maintenance and puts things off for later, a fake camera setup might even be more secure than a real one. When a real camera suffers damage, it might take you a while to save up for a repair or replacement. But for a fake camera, replacement is a snap.
5. You Can Get Creative With It
While real cameras need special positioning so they can be near a wifi connection or get the perfect angle, you have free reign to put fake cameras wherever you want.
In fact, you might want to get a few fake cameras and place them in succession to create levels of deterrence for robbers. Sure, a person might sneak past one camera, but if they start seeing more, they might decide that it's not worth it.
If you want to get a little more serious, you might also want to get a light or two to place around the fake camera.
You can get these for cheap at your local hardware store, and they will make the camera seem more real. When you have a real camera, you'll want to keep the area well-lit so your footage looks good. And good lighting around your house isn't just a way to improve your disguise—it's also a great thing to have anyway, so you can get around easily at night.
For another piece of the puzzle, you might also want to get a sign for your lawn or around your home to let people know there's a "camera" nearby.
6. Community Safety
These days, with incidents of police brutality regularly making the news, you may be wondering how to protect your things without getting the police involved every time. Home security systems often have built-in police alerts, and even if not, law enforcement officers often ask to see surveillance footage from homes and businesses.
Getting some fake cameras is a way to focus on prevention rather than reaction. This way, you can put out the message that you care about protecting your home without creating a direct connection to local authorities.
7. Thoughtful Design
One benefit of using a fake camera is that it can be as "high-tech" as you want it to be, for the same low price. For example, our fake cameras offer a real flashing light and a completely dark tint so that it's hard to tell which direction the camera is facing.
With a real security camera, you'll need to spend some time deciding whether to dish out on the added features. For a security camera, though, you can go straight to the top of the line.
Try It for Yourself!
There are plenty of reasons to use fake cameras for your security setup, but the best way to know if they're right for you is to try them out in your home. These handy tools are so affordable that you could get one—or two!—for the cost of a takeout lunch.
Test out how easy these are to install and how much they look like the real thing, and you'll see what we've been going on about. And if you want someone to help you figure it all out, give us a call!