Are Dummy CCTV Cameras For Home Use Worth It?

Dummy CCTV cameras for home use can be a great deterrent to deter would be burglars and criminals.

It’s highly unlikely that someone would be able to distinguish between a dummy cctv camera and a real one – especially due to the huge range of dummy cctv cameras available out there and the improvement in quality that’s been seen in these types of products over the years.

In this article, we’ll look at whether buying a dummy CCTV camera unit for your home is worth it, or whether it’s a waste of time. Below is a handy table of contents – click on any of these titles and it will take you to the relevant section on this page.

Table of Contents

What Is A Dummy CCTV Camera

A dummy CCTV camera is a basically a CCTV camera that is made to look like a real CCTV camera.

Dummy CCTV cameras are cheaper and easier to install than a real CCTV camera.

Dummy camera’s have no other purpose other than to act as a deterrent.

Dummy CCTV – A Deterrent

When we talk about home security, we often talk about deterrents.

A deterrent is something that that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.

In this case, the fake CCTV camera discourages anyone who has criminal intentions of entering onto land or property, with the consequences being that they would be potentially recorded on camera, potentially giving their identity away.

Make no mistake about it, security deterrents are absolutely huge and make a big impact on your general home security – regardless of whether something is real or fake.

The mere psychological impact these deterrents can make can sometimes mean the difference between a potential burglar choosing your home to break into – or moving on to another home without visible deterrents present.

Why Would I Not Install A Real CCTV Camera?

There are two main reasons why you would choose a fake cctv unit over a real one.

Cost of purchasing real CCTV cameras.
Difficulty & cost of installing them.

Cost and technical know how can be a limiting factor in buying and installing a real CCTV system. A good quality system can cost upwards from £50 to £1000, with the price rising exponentially if you get a contractor in to install it and then maintain it.

With a decoy CCTV system, it’s a case of drilling a hole in an external wall and fixing it to the wall.

Layering Security Principles

A fake CCTV camera should not be your only deterrent.

Any security measure you implement in isolation will not work as well as multiple security measures working in conjunction with each other.

We talk more about security layering here, but in essence, you’ll want additional security measures and deterrents to compliment your dummy CCTV unit – for instance, you could also buy CCTV warning signage which offers more psychological deterrent.

Should I Buy A Fake CCTV Camera For My Home?

If money is tight and budget will not allow you to buy real CCTV cameras, then a dummy CCTV camera is thoroughly recommended from a deterrent standpoint.

Recommended Reading: Best Dummy CCTV Camera’s For Home Use

You can buy fake CCTV cameras for as little as £10, and install it quickly and easily. The only tools you’ll need are:

A ladder
A drill with masonary drill piece
A screwdriver

And it should take you know longer than 15-20 minutes of your time, and it’s job done – a quick and easy deterrent for you and your home.

A Fake CCTV Camera Is Better Than Nothing At All

Remember, the name of the game here is deterrent.

Do not underestimate the power of a good deterrent.

And let me ask you this question.

An opportunist criminal is walking down your road looking for an opportunity. The criminal looks at your house, and your neighbours house. Your house has what appears to be a CCTV camera. Your neighbours house doesn’t.

Which house is that criminal more likely to burgle?

Questions & Comments

As always, leave us your questions and comments using the form below – we respond to every single comment. Have you got dummy cameras? Have you used both dummy cameras and real cameras? What’s your experiences – we are keen to hear your views.