Fake security cameras are a useful way to detect criminals and save money. When deciding how to use fake security cameras, check first their placement and type.
Dummy security cameras are best used in conjunction with actual security cameras. Buy actual security cameras first if budget is a concern, then purchase fake security cameras to expand the primary security system.
Fake security cameras offer several advantages over actual cameras. Fake security cameras are low maintenance and do not need to be connected to the camera network. Additionally, they are convincing enough that a criminal may be deterred by their presence alone. Higher-end fake security cameras also include a fake length of cable that connects to a non-working electrical outlet. Many fake security cameras use the housing of an actual security camera without any of the workings within.
When purchasing fake security cameras, make sure they resemble the actual security cameras. Also make sure the fake security cameras are visible, or that the actual security cameras are better hidden than the fake ones. The purpose of fake security cameras are to intimidate and deter, so the actual security cameras can do the actual surveillance.
Fake security cameras, or dummy cameras, are non-functional surveillance cameras designed to fool intruders, or anyone who it is supposedly watching. Those cameras are intentionally placed in a noticeable place, so passing people notice them and believe the area to be monitored by CCTV.
The cheapest fake security cameras can be recognized by not having real lenses (the "lenses" are just an opaque piece of plastic), and just one cable, whereas the real cameras have one image cable and one power cable. Other fake cameras include broken real cameras, motion sensors disguised as cameras, or empty camera housings. They may have flashing lights, or a motor to simulate pan-tilt motion.
Since dummy cameras are non-functional, they are generally used in environments where the only need for a security camera is to deter minor theft and vandalism, such as small businesses like restaurants and convenience stores. Professional thieves have the experience to recognize a dummy camera, so they do not stop these people from acting.
Dummy cameras are also used to augment real surveillance systems to increase the deterrent effect at a minimal additional cost. Many camera vendors offer dummy cameras that look identical to the real ones they sell. A typical camera kit may include four real cameras and four dummies. The subjects being monitored are likely to assume that all of the cameras are real.
