Top 7 Mistakes People Make When Installing Security Cameras
October 16, 2017 By David Chemago, CCIP
As professionals in security and surveillance, we are out preparing security proposals for clients every day. When we look at a home or business, what we are really doing is determining how we can make the building a "Hard Target".
It is an unfortunate reality that breaking into someone's residence or business is a full time job for some criminals. Whether the thief is a professional looking to break into a high value target like a jewelry store, or is a drug addict looking for an easy score to grab something they can sell quickly for a few dollars, the goal of security cameras is the same, deterrence.
We have seen poor video footage countless times of criminals carrying out an act, totally unaware of there being any security cameras at the site. Low resolution cameras and poor camera placement can make the difference in deterring a would be thief, or having usable evidence of a crime.
1. Think Like A Criminal
We have all seen in the movies criminals scoping out a location sometimes days or weeks before a break in. Although some criminals are professionals and carry out intelligence gathering, most are crimes of opportunity where thieves simply walk, ride their bikes, or drive through a neighborhood looking for an easy score.
October 16, 2017 By David Chemago, CCIP
As professionals in security and surveillance, we are out preparing security proposals for clients every day. When we look at a home or business, what we are really doing is determining how we can make the building a "Hard Target".
It is an unfortunate reality that breaking into someone's residence or business is a full time job for some criminals. Whether the thief is a professional looking to break into a high value target like a jewelry store, or is a drug addict looking for an easy score to grab something they can sell quickly for a few dollars, the goal of security cameras is the same, deterrence.
We have seen poor video footage countless times of criminals carrying out an act, totally unaware of there being any security cameras at the site. Low resolution cameras and poor camera placement can make the difference in deterring a would be thief, or having usable evidence of a crime.
1. Think Like A Criminal
We have all seen in the movies criminals scoping out a location sometimes days or weeks before a break in. Although some criminals are professionals and carry out intelligence gathering, most are crimes of opportunity where thieves simply walk, ride their bikes, or drive through a neighborhood looking for an easy score.
Security Tip- Most home break-ins are in the daytime and vehicles at night.
Have a walk around your home or business and have a good look at your property in both day and night. What you are doing is a basic risk assessment.
A basic checklist of things to look for and think about is:
A basic checklist of things to look for and think about is:
- What is my neighborhood like, is there a lot of crime in the area?
- Are there trees or bushes providing cover for criminals?
- How is the lighting at night? Do I have good outdoor lighting and motion lights?
- Can I park my cars in the garage?
- Do I have a ladder stored out back or at the side of the house?
- If I have an alarm system or security cameras, is there proper warning signage displayed?
2. Security Camera Placement
If you are going to install security cameras yourself or have a professional installation company do it, you need to make sure that your cameras are placed correctly.
One of the most common mistakes we see in the field is that cameras are installed too high. Why is this an issue? Although cameras placed high up are great for covering large areas, they are completely useless for evidence purposes.
Most criminals wear hats or hoodies and all you will see is great HD footage of the tops of their heads.
We recommend installing cameras covering key break-in locations at about 8 to 10 feet up. A few cameras placed higher up (no more than 15 feet) to cover the whole front yard and the front street is also a good idea to capture possible vehicles used.
If you are going to install security cameras yourself or have a professional installation company do it, you need to make sure that your cameras are placed correctly.
One of the most common mistakes we see in the field is that cameras are installed too high. Why is this an issue? Although cameras placed high up are great for covering large areas, they are completely useless for evidence purposes.
Most criminals wear hats or hoodies and all you will see is great HD footage of the tops of their heads.
We recommend installing cameras covering key break-in locations at about 8 to 10 feet up. A few cameras placed higher up (no more than 15 feet) to cover the whole front yard and the front street is also a good idea to capture possible vehicles used.
With a house this size we would recommend 8 cameras be installed to cover the driveway, front door, sides of the house, and back yard.
For most homes, we recommend a minimum of 4 cameras to provide basic coverage of your property. Installing 6 or 8 cameras is a much better option.
3. Security Camera Choices
There are different shapes of security cameras for different purposes. The 4 main styles of cameras for residences and businesses are bullet, vandal dome, turret, and PTZ cameras.
There are different styles for different purposes, I have detailed the basic differences below.
There are different shapes of security cameras for different purposes. The 4 main styles of cameras for residences and businesses are bullet, vandal dome, turret, and PTZ cameras.
There are different styles for different purposes, I have detailed the basic differences below.
Vandal Dome Security Cameras
These types of cameras are designed to be tough and are often used in low areas such as underground parking lots and outside businesses.
PROS- These cameras can take a beating and feature uncommon screws to reduce the chances of them getting stolen or disabled. They often feature 2 or 3 axis adjustibility so you can position the camera facing in different angles and directions.
CONS- In order to make adjustments or to mount the camera, you will need to unscrew and remove the protective cover which can be a challenge when you are up a ladder. We recommend taking the cover off on the ground before you attempt to mount it.
These types of cameras are designed to be tough and are often used in low areas such as underground parking lots and outside businesses.
PROS- These cameras can take a beating and feature uncommon screws to reduce the chances of them getting stolen or disabled. They often feature 2 or 3 axis adjustibility so you can position the camera facing in different angles and directions.
CONS- In order to make adjustments or to mount the camera, you will need to unscrew and remove the protective cover which can be a challenge when you are up a ladder. We recommend taking the cover off on the ground before you attempt to mount it.
Bullet Security Cameras
These types of cameras are designed to be mounted higher up and out in the elements.
PROS- These cameras keep rain off the lens and are meant to be used when cover is not available. They are the easiest type to adjust.
CONS- They are not vandal proof and can easily be damaged or turned away if hit with a hammer or crowbar. They are also easier to steal.
Turret Security Cameras
Turret security cameras are a lower profile camera design. Although they are outdoor rated, they are often used indoors as they are smaller and sleeker. They are easy to install and position and are a common choice for people installing themselves.
PROS- Turret cameras are semi vandal proof and are easy to install and adjust. They feature a lower profile but still have all of the features of other cameras.
CONS- They are outdoor rated, but can still get rain drops on the lens cover during heavy rainfall which can be annoying. They are designed to be installed under a soffit or in covered areas.
Turret security cameras are a lower profile camera design. Although they are outdoor rated, they are often used indoors as they are smaller and sleeker. They are easy to install and position and are a common choice for people installing themselves.
PROS- Turret cameras are semi vandal proof and are easy to install and adjust. They feature a lower profile but still have all of the features of other cameras.
CONS- They are outdoor rated, but can still get rain drops on the lens cover during heavy rainfall which can be annoying. They are designed to be installed under a soffit or in covered areas.
PTZ Security Cameras
PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) security cameras are specifically designed to be used on a regular basis and are typically used by security monitoring personnel or by people and businesses that have large lots or acreage.
PROS- PTZ security cameras are able to zoom over great distances with a motorized lens to capture events and details as if you were just a few feet away. With a joystick or mouse you are also able to follow a would be criminal and get very detailed evidence of a threat. in some instances it is cheaper to use such a camera instead of running a hard wired camera a long distance to a gate or entrance.
CONS- They are much more expensive than regular cameras and need to be mounted at a great height to fully utilize their capabilities. Service can also be an issue if the camera has been mounted higher than a ladder can reach.
PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) security cameras are specifically designed to be used on a regular basis and are typically used by security monitoring personnel or by people and businesses that have large lots or acreage.
PROS- PTZ security cameras are able to zoom over great distances with a motorized lens to capture events and details as if you were just a few feet away. With a joystick or mouse you are also able to follow a would be criminal and get very detailed evidence of a threat. in some instances it is cheaper to use such a camera instead of running a hard wired camera a long distance to a gate or entrance.
CONS- They are much more expensive than regular cameras and need to be mounted at a great height to fully utilize their capabilities. Service can also be an issue if the camera has been mounted higher than a ladder can reach.
HD 1080p AVTECH PTZ footage from outside our offices with a 20x optical zoom lens
4. Setting Cameras To Record On Motion Only
Although the final decision is up to the customer, we always strongly recommend that your security cameras are recording 24/7 to an onsite DVR or NVR recorder. In the past hard drives were quite expensive and many systems were set up on record during motion activation only.
Reasons to have your system recording 24/7:
Although the final decision is up to the customer, we always strongly recommend that your security cameras are recording 24/7 to an onsite DVR or NVR recorder. In the past hard drives were quite expensive and many systems were set up on record during motion activation only.
Reasons to have your system recording 24/7:
- Some systems can have a delay in recording. What this means is that there may be several seconds between when the camera motion sensor triggered, and when the recorder started capturing the event.
- Especially when covering larger areas, there are limitations to the cameras motion sensor. Because of this something may happen in the corner of the screen or in the distance and the camera does not trigger the recording.
- The camera may stop the recording too soon such as when someone gets behind or inside a vehicle they have just broken into.
- Hard drives have become much cheaper. Although new HD cameras require more space and bigger hard drive space (we deal in terabytes not megabytes in the security camera industry), you are able to store several weeks of 24/7 recorded footage quite easily with a few terabytes of hard drive.
5. Not Understanding What "Night Vision" Is
Most IP and TVI security cameras come with "night vision" capabilities. These cameras use IR (Infra-Red) lights to shine brightly when the sensor of the camera detects that it is dark out.
IR light is the same type of light used in your TV remote control at home. It is a wavelength of light that we cannot see, but that does not mean it isn't there, lighting up an area just as a large flashlight would.
The IR light can be picked up by security cameras, and it gives us a black and white image on the screen.
Security camera night vision is not to be confused or compared with military night vision. Security cameras are transmitting IR light to see in the dark, military night vision is magnifying available light to see in the dark and is much more effective and much more expensive.
Most IP and TVI security cameras come with "night vision" capabilities. These cameras use IR (Infra-Red) lights to shine brightly when the sensor of the camera detects that it is dark out.
IR light is the same type of light used in your TV remote control at home. It is a wavelength of light that we cannot see, but that does not mean it isn't there, lighting up an area just as a large flashlight would.
The IR light can be picked up by security cameras, and it gives us a black and white image on the screen.
Security camera night vision is not to be confused or compared with military night vision. Security cameras are transmitting IR light to see in the dark, military night vision is magnifying available light to see in the dark and is much more effective and much more expensive.
It is important to note that regardless of how much you spend on a security camera, you are going to see a reduction in clarity at night.
Do not expect a security camera's night vision to light up a large area in the total darkness outside at night. Although external IR emitters are available, we recommend you add outdoor lighting to the area.
If you add enough outdoor lights, the cameras will switch back to color mode.
Do not expect a security camera's night vision to light up a large area in the total darkness outside at night. Although external IR emitters are available, we recommend you add outdoor lighting to the area.
If you add enough outdoor lights, the cameras will switch back to color mode.
6. Buying Low Resolution Or Ultra High Resolution Cameras
Technically "HD" security cameras start at 1.3MP which is also called 720p. Years ago these were the best you could get, and although they are an upgrade to traditional Analog cameras they are simply not good enough for evidence, and are especially bad at night.
There are many online retailers and camera installers who promote HD 720p cameras. Do not be fooled, these camera resolutions are not adequate to protect your home or business.
Do yourself a favor and get a minimum of 2MP 1080p cameras, or a 5MP camera system that is able to record in what's called "real time" (real time is a smooth frame rate of 30 feet per second and is not choppy). There are higher MP systems out there that cannot actually record and display what they claim.
They may be able to give you a high MP but you need to set the frame rates far below "real time". I have seen some set as low as 10fps which looks like a robot walking down the street.
Technically "HD" security cameras start at 1.3MP which is also called 720p. Years ago these were the best you could get, and although they are an upgrade to traditional Analog cameras they are simply not good enough for evidence, and are especially bad at night.
There are many online retailers and camera installers who promote HD 720p cameras. Do not be fooled, these camera resolutions are not adequate to protect your home or business.
Do yourself a favor and get a minimum of 2MP 1080p cameras, or a 5MP camera system that is able to record in what's called "real time" (real time is a smooth frame rate of 30 feet per second and is not choppy). There are higher MP systems out there that cannot actually record and display what they claim.
They may be able to give you a high MP but you need to set the frame rates far below "real time". I have seen some set as low as 10fps which looks like a robot walking down the street.
Low frame rates will result in robotic video footage
This is due to the processors in the recorder not being able to handle higher resolution cameras with real time performance. As an example as technology currently stands, without spending enormous amounts of money, you cannot have an 8 channel recorder running 8 x 8MP(4K) IP Cameras at 30fps.
You are far better purchasing a 2 or 5MP system that can record in real time.
You are far better purchasing a 2 or 5MP system that can record in real time.
7. Hiding Your Outdoor Security Cameras
We get calls on occasion where the customer wants us to install a complete exterior camera system at their house but wants us to hide the cameras as best as possible from anyone passing by.
Their thought process is that if someone sees their cameras, they might think that they must have expensive stuff in the house. This may have been true years ago when cameras were very expensive, but we explain that its actually the exact opposite that you want.
The main purpose of using cameras for security is to deter would be thieves to go somewhere else and leave your residence alone.
Don't get me wrong, there are times when covert cameras are necessary to catch a repeat offender (usually a neighbor), who is messing with your property. But as a security tool, cameras should be overt and obvious.
I hope these tips help you in your quest for securing your home or business, and I am always open to any questions or suggestions you may have.
We get calls on occasion where the customer wants us to install a complete exterior camera system at their house but wants us to hide the cameras as best as possible from anyone passing by.
Their thought process is that if someone sees their cameras, they might think that they must have expensive stuff in the house. This may have been true years ago when cameras were very expensive, but we explain that its actually the exact opposite that you want.
The main purpose of using cameras for security is to deter would be thieves to go somewhere else and leave your residence alone.
Don't get me wrong, there are times when covert cameras are necessary to catch a repeat offender (usually a neighbor), who is messing with your property. But as a security tool, cameras should be overt and obvious.
I hope these tips help you in your quest for securing your home or business, and I am always open to any questions or suggestions you may have.
David Chemago, CCIP
David holds several government licenses as a fully licensed Private Investigator, Security Agent, Security Camera Installer, And Security Alarm Sales. David is an expert in security and security technology and leads the STI Investigation and Intelligence Group, the Investigative Division of Six Technologies. |