Hidden Security Cameras?

We moved to a new neighborhood not too long ago and I'm not too concerned about security. But I am still interested in getting a camera for my place. Mainly just something small for the living room/front door. There were recently some break in incidents in town. I do have a sign that says I'm recording already as a deterrent, but I'd like to make the sign true.

Anyone have any affordable recommendations? Something that works on blue tooth maybe? I don't know if I want something wifi equipped because those are easily hacked from my understanding. Any ideas? I'm also looking into dash cams too.


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A basic game camera is probably sufficient unless you are worried about folks stealing the camera, in that case a bluetooth model sounds like the way to go.

ttwtt78640 said:

A basic game camera is probably sufficient unless you are worried about folks stealing the camera, in that case a bluetooth model sounds like the way to go.

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That's honestly my concern. I'd like to make sure it isn't something they can see and snag. Honestly, it looks like I might be able to find a dash cam that can also be a security cam the way some of the features work.


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There seem to be two approaches to such cameras:

- motion detection (what b5 referred to in #1), and

- always on cameras.
The problem is, the barbarian engineers that design the latter don't integrate event-stamping into their software.

So if you vacation for the weekend, and return to find your house tossed, you may have two or three days of video to scan through to find something useful.

Event-stamping would shave that to a minute or two.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Low cost solutions may be battery powered, and might be concealed in something clever.

But it might be better to connect the camera to a remote recording device that the bad guys either can't find (if it's wireless), or if a wire (which they can trace), is inaccessible, as in a safe they can't crack. Don't write the combination to the safe on the safe door.

blackjack50 said:

That's honestly my concern. I'd like to make sure it isn't something they can see and snag. Honestly, it looks like I might be able to find a dash cam that can also be a security cam the way some of the features work.


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Click to expand...

Maybe hide one in a birdhouse? I have a sticker on my front door you have to walk up to, to see it. A human sillouhet target that says, nothing inside is worth dying for. Very true, I don't have much worth stealing, but I will shoot home breakers.

blackjack50 said:

We moved to a new neighborhood not too long ago and I'm not too concerned about security. But I am still interested in getting a camera for my place. Mainly just something small for the living room/front door. There were recently some break in incidents in town. I do have a sign that says I'm recording already as a deterrent, but I'd like to make the sign true.

Anyone have any affordable recommendations? Something that works on blue tooth maybe? I don't know if I want something wifi equipped because those are easily hacked from my understanding. Any ideas? I'm also looking into dash cams too.


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Click to expand...

I'm would be more inclined , if you are concerned about burglary to place a camera in a visible, but out of reach, location. The presence of the camera itself is a deterrent. You want people to move on down the road and not try to break in.
Now as to what to get. YOu can get a wireless ip motion detection camera with night vision for around 50$ that is decent quality. however that leaves it up to set it up to record on a computer. If you want to go for a dvr that it connects to and records you could get a package for around 150-200$ that is decent might even decide on more than one camera.

SD #6

Versatile products have already reached the market.
When I was a boy (late 1950's) there was a private residence in the neighborhood that instead of a door-bell had an intercom.
Hit the button, and a resident would respond.

BUT !!

Such scheme is a give-away to the bad-guys.
Hit the button and get a reply, and you're selling tickets to the dog show.
Hit the button and get no reply, you've just found the next house to burglarize.

Enter the 3rd Millennium.
There are now somewhat door-bell-like devices:
when someone hits the button, you can respond as if it was a hard-wired local intercom.

BUT !!

You can use your smart-phone for that, from anywhere that can ping a tower (tracfones ping promiscuously).

My intended point here is not merely that such thing is technologically possible.
I've seen them advertised as commercially available.
Home improvement centers like Home Depot, and Lowe's would be a good place to start looking.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Regarding deterrence:
yes. A conspicuous camera can discourage a burglar, particularly if it is PTZ *.
Cameras that track (some can do this automatically) someone approaching your front door tend to give crooks the creeps.

The hardware is cheap enough these days, I recommend both conspicuous, and hidden.

Have a conspicuous camera OUTSIDE. The warning sign may reduce the deterrent, as some people post the sign without having a security system.

BUT !!

Having a few hidden cameras, such as one at the top of the stairs, facing the foot of the stairs, so you get good video of the crook.

One of the places burglars check first is the bedroom's top dresser drawer. It's a cliché that people "hide" valuables there.

* Pan, tilt, zoom