Conscious homeowners who want to have peace of mind both when they are, and when they aren’t at home, tend to invest a decent amount of money in home security systems. They will get good surveillance cameras, they’ll add things such as smart locks and video doorbells, and even include a few motion sensors in the mix for good measure.
However, another trend we’re seeing lately, and it’s been rising rapidly, is the mass usage of fake home security products. Yes, you heard that right. They aren’t operational, they won’t do anything functionally, and yet many homeowners still decide to get them instead of using better options.
So, what’s the thing with those? Why do people buy them instead of genuine, functional home security gear? And most importantly, do they actually make your home secure?
What are those fake home security products?
In order to understand this category of products, you should understand the two main “deterrents” for thieves who are casing your home. The first one is the fact that someone may be at home. Lights turned on, flashing light from the TV, these are all indications that there’s a person in the home – something burglars tend to avoid. The second one is the fact that someone is watching you whether you’re inside, or outside the house. If a burglar sees a security camera, chances are they’ll stay well away from that home since they don’t want to risk being caught.
Fake home security products give you those two things for a very cheap price. For example, you will find fake TVs. This is basically a box with LED lights that flashes in a random pattern, thus emulating the light that would come out of a TV set if it were turned on. The other major category here is fake surveillance cameras. They look just like a real one to the untrained eye, but in fact, they’re just the casing and offer no recording solution at all.
How do such products actually fare?
Well, let’s start things off with fake cameras. The first benefit over a genuine one is the price. Since there are no electronics inside, they’re much, much cheaper than a real one. You can have a host of them outside without breaking the bank. Good ones are also virtually indistinguishable from real cameras, which is where you want to be.
On the other hand, an experienced thief will notice that your camera is a dummy in less than a few seconds. There are a few giveaways, especially if you opt for a cheaper variant. If you get a more expensive one, you may even fool some burglars. They include a realistic-looking lens, as well as cables leading back to the house.
When it comes to fake TVs, they only work in a few situations. For example, using one on a ground floor isn’t really successful as the thief can look through the window and see whether your TV is actually on, or there’s something else going on. Having one on the first or second floor though might be a bit more successful. And before you ask why not just leave your TV on, the answer is that a fake TV uses up much less electricity, so you’re saving a bit of money.
Should you get any of them?
Whether or not you should get them really depends on what you want to achieve. The main factor that impacts the decision is pricing. In the case of the dummy cameras, a good fake’s price is getting dangerously close to the price of a budget-oriented genuine security camera. In this case, why not actually add security instead of faking it?
When it comes to fake TVs, they’re only useful in limited situations, and you will want to be very careful with how and where you use them. Otherwise, they’re pretty useless as a thief will be able to spot them and know you’re faking things.
At the end of the day, fake home security products don’t make your home more secure. An experienced thief will have a field trip if he notices your security is fake, and you’ll have no footage to review and help you afterward. Save up a bit more, and get yourself a good home security system, it’s more than worth it.