The annual Bureau of Justice and Statistics survey of 2017 indicates that only 36% of common category property crime was reported to the police.
Lack of evidence to help pursue a property crime case that could help bring the culprits to justice might be a reason why some of these crimes are not reported. However, with proper surveillance equipment, home security is enhanced. In case of a break in or motor vehicle theft, you can get the evidence required.
A smart home automation system combined with outdoor security cameras can strengthen the safety and security of your property.
Ensure every inch of your property gets covered by your security system. Use this security camera placement guide to mount cameras in optimal locations.
Where to Place the Cameras
The positioning of the cameras is vital to provide adequate surveillance.
1. Interior Camera Surveillance
Common areas like the kitchen or living room should be under surveillance. This way you can monitor all activities that happen in those rooms. Prioritize rooms with large ground floor windows in case of breaking or tampering you can be able to see the persons’ actions.
2. Main Stairway and Hallway
As people move around the house, they will definitely use the hallway. These will help monitor your home thoroughly even if an intruder gains access of the house through unmonitored areas
3. Security Camera placement at The Front Door
Burglars are not always sneaky and use side entrances, statistics show that about 34% of burglars use the front door to break into homes. You can catch the package thieves who always pounce when the delivery is left at your doorstep. The main entrance camera will keep tabs of everyone who accesses your home.
4. Back and Side Door Surveillance Cameras
Put cameras on all your secondary doors. If your doors are out of sight, undetected visitors can access your home.
Ensure you know who comes in and through which door. This includes your basement doors that may be easily accessible by anyone.
5. Obscure Windows
Most intruders enter homes through the windows that are out of view of the street so that they are not seen. The outdoor cameras should point to the off-street windows. Ensure the cameras are high enough that intruders can’t tamper with them.
6. Exterior Security System for Garage And Drive Way
The security cameras should be placed near the garage with a wide range of the driveway. Intruders access the garage doors using wires and it’s a common entry point.
In case the intruder is on a mission to steal your car or vandalize it, you’re able to monitor their movements. Make sure that if there’s a gate at the end of the driveway, you put cameras there as well.
7. Back yard
Some intruders may not break into your home but will access your backyard and take values. Some may be scoping your house from the outside. Monitor all activities that happen there including children playing, animals or intruders.
Restricted Areas For Security Cameras
These areas include:
• Bedrooms and bathrooms
Personal space and privacy are important and should not be violated by the security system
• Violating a neighbor’s privacy
In case your back-yard surveillance cameras may infringe on the neighbor’s privacy like their bedroom or bathrooms, you may be forced to uninstall your system. It’s also important that you check the camera placement laws that will guide you on your exterior surveillance cameras.
Optimize Security System Placement for Visibility and Function
Once you have identified areas to put monitor with surveillance, strategize on the installation process.
External surveillance
• When installing outdoor cameras, they should be out of easy reach from anyone but at a level that they can capture the fine details of the area under surveillance.
• Whether the cameras should be visible or hidden should be your decision. However, visible surveillance cameras are great burglar deterrents.
• When getting your surveillance cameras, ensure that they are weather and waterproof protected. This way you know that no matter the weather, they will be working with no need to replace them
Internal surveillance
• Put cameras at the corners of the rooms. This covers a wide range of the room with just one camera.
• Avoid pointing the cameras out of the windows because of reflection. Use cameras with wide dynamic range features for windows or doorways.
• Ensure there’s ample lighting but not direct light to the camera. Direct light will wash out your footage and will not be clear. Your security system should cater to both day and night surveillance; therefore, you should install a system that is night vision enabled.
Installation Tips
• Before you fully install the system, you must test to see whether it’s performing the required functions. Make sure you can see the area well and there are no obstacles that are blocking the view
• Cameras will need regular maintenance and cleaning so install knowing that you have to maintain them once in a while so they shouldn’t be too far to reach.
Install Security System for Your Safety
Having security camera placement is vital for preventing a break in or destruction of your property.
For the restricted areas from surveillance, you can opt for motion sensors that are connected to the security system on doors and windows.
Consult a professional to help you install the surveillance system. This way you save yourself a lot of time trying to figure out how the cameras work.
Read more on home surveillance and security on our blog.