The Most Important Locations For Security Cameras on Your Property

By: Richard Armen

When it comes to home security, surveillance cameras are one of your best lines of defense. A good camera can deter crime and capture evidence of a wide variety of unwanted behaviors, from misbehaving kids to a burglar breaking in. Whether you install dummy cameras or opt for the real thing, placing your cameras in strategic locations is the key to using cameras for home security.

Don't wait to make your plan after you've already purchased the cameras. Instead, it should be one of the factors when you are deciding how many cameras and what type of cameras to buy. When planning the setup of your surveillance cameras, most homeowners opt for a mix of camera styles, including hidden cameras, standard surveillance cameras, and “dummy” cameras, for a variety of uses indoors and out.

Determining how many cameras you'll need to purchase to provide adequate protection for your home requires walking around your home, both inside and outside, to spot the locations that would be ideal for surveillance cameras. Here are the top five best places to install a security camera on your property:

1. High on the house, angled towards the front door and windows. Typically, the best location to mount a camera to capture activities at the front of the house is in the eaves or on the second story. Your front door is one of the most common entry points for burglars. A camera mounted there can also capture the image of suspicious visitors and anything else that might be happening near this center of activity. Many families use a surveillance camera to see who's knocking before they approach the door. If you have a long pathway or front gate, you may also want to aim a camera at this location.
2. Towards the back and side doors. After the front door, the back door is the second most popular entry point for burglars. Side doors are also quite popular, because intruders feel more comfortable taking their time to get into the home when they can't be seen from the street. These cameras should be mounted in the most obvious position available so that burglars see them and decide that your home is too well protected to risk entering. Dummy cameras serve this purpose well.
3. In the backyard with night vision and motion-sensing lights. If you have a large backyard, or keep tools or other expensive equipment in the yard, a camera trained on your property is essential. Make sure that it's one with infrared or “night-vision” capabilities so that you can see what's happening in the dark.

4. In the living room. A hidden camera in the living room lets you watch the activities going on without anyone knowing you're watching. This is a particularly important strategy if you regularly have babysitters, housecleaners, or other service providers in your home. Hidden cameras can be placed on the mantel, on a bookshelf, or nearly anywhere else within the room, as their small size makes them easy to hide.

5. Problem areas. Are you having trouble with people spraying graffiti on your fence? Do you suspect that the nanny may be mistreating your kids? Do you have a particularly hidden entrance that might be targeted by burglars? All are great reasons to install a security camera aimed particularly at stopping this threat.