Understanding the DUMMY security camera

A lot of retail stores seemed to be armed with dummy cameras nowadays. After all, they are inexpensive versions of the much more effective but pricey CCTV cameras. And for a layman, they are pretty much the same. (In case you didn’t know, dummy cameras are fake security cameras that have the camera housing minus the actual electronics) They are designed to look like actual cameras but are not real. Dummy cameras when used in the right place can prove to be useful.

But does installing 6 to 7 dummy cameras in a retail store really help prevent shoplifting? Or in a more serious situation, can they actually help you in gathering evidence or catching a criminal like real CCTV cameras do? The answer is NO.

In order to better understand their effectiveness it is necessary to look into the implications and limitations of dummy cameras.

PROS

• Inexpensive. While a real security camera will cost you an arm and a leg, the dummy security camera hardly costs $10 to $20.
• Authentic looking. Dummy cameras look exactly like real CCTV cameras and it would take an expert to know that it isn’t real.
• CAN help prevent crime. A dummy security camera can prove to be helpful in preventing crime as the sight of a camera is enough to deter criminals from attempting a crime.
• Can be used to strengthen your security network at minimal cost. Add it along with real CCTV cameras and your network suddenly looks much stronger.

CONS

• Cannot record real footage. There are people who feel that a dummy security camera is a cheap but working CCTV camera. No. It is what the name suggests, a DUMMY or a replica.
• A seasoned shoplifter will eventually find out that the camera is a fake when he/she is not caught after repeated offenses.
• Some models have a red LED light on the front panel that shows that the camera is working. But very few original cameras have such LED lights and this light itself can be an indicator that the camera is a fake one.
• Can give a sense of implied security.

The Final Verdict

The usage of dummy security cameras should be determined by one’s personal preferences. Yes, at times they can prove to be ineffective but it is also true that when used at the right place, they can prove to be extremely effective in preventing crime. But the best way to use them would be to pair them up with other security gadgets like door/window alarms & motion sensors so that you always have a back up.