Are Security Cameras Worth The Money?

Security is one of the essential things in a household; no one wants to have their properties stolen or destroyed. Hence, every house must be on the lookout for making their environment and vicinity a haven. This brought us to the question, are security cameras worth the money?

When we talk about security, we refer to the safety of human lives and properties as well. It could as well mean the measures taken to be safe or protected. This word can also be used for a security measure, security check, or security guard.

When your environment is not secured, you will be worried wherever you are, and this shows how security matters should be taken seriously. It is one thing to furnish one’s house and beautify it with a lot of fancy stuff, and it is another thing to make sure that we keep securing those things and always have our possessions intact.

You will agree that no one would like to live in an area where their properties won’t be safe. When you can’t protect your house, no one else will do it for you. You can’t always be depending on the police to be doing house to house checks to keep your home safe. This is why you have to be ready to defend your properties and your loved ones. Are you asking how you can achieve this? Well, you can protect your family by getting your house a security camera.

A security camera is what you need in your homes and businesses to give you peace of mind and focus on other important things instead of bothering yourself every day on security issues. Gone is the day when people find it challenging to trace criminal acts or know what is happening in their business or home. With the advent of different security cameras, people can now know what is happening at home or work even when they are not present.

This has brought about so many questions, like why spending so much on cameras, why the need for security cameras?  Many individuals believe that security cameras are too costly, and there is no need to buy one because they see it as a waste of money. Do you also see security cameras as a waste of money? In answering this question, we need to know what security cameras are and the benefits of having a security camera, whether at home or in your workplace. With this, we can now conclude together at the end of this article if security cameras are worth the money.

What are Security Cameras?

Photo Credit: Flickr

Most times, the objects or tools that we come across every day or that we have been used to are always the most difficult ones to define. This is true about security cameras; as we see them in our homes or workplaces every day. It is hard to give a precise definition.

However, I will go ahead to give this a definition for this article. Hence, A security camera is a video camera that is programmed to record the visuals of the activities that are going on where it is placed.

There are different types of security cameras. Some are specially made for your home, while others could fit in at your workplace.

As stated earlier, there are two main categories of cameras for home security cameras: indoor and outdoor. These categories have several security cameras subcategories, including wired and wireless, battery-powered and AC-powered, and floodlight cameras and doorbell cameras. The primary difference between indoor and outdoor cameras is that outdoor cameras are weather-resistant. So, they can withstand rain, sun, and dust.

According to Jordan Frankel, vice president of Security Consulting Firm Global Security Experts Inc., outdoor cameras typically do have a protective coating on the casing and lens that will last for years, and this makes them more expensive than indoor cameras.

This article will look into the different indoor and outdoor security cameras you can buy as part of a security camera system.

What Are the Types of Security Cameras?

As mentioned above, we have numerous types of indoor and outdoor security cameras; below are a few of the types that you can get:

Wired Indoor Cameras

Wired indoor security cameras are connected to a central recording device by an ethernet cable. These cameras come in various styles and provide a wide field of view inside a home. They typically require professional installation.

Wireless Indoor Cameras

Wireless indoor cameras can connect to a Wi-Fi network and store their footage in the cloud. They are easy to install as they do not need a cable to transmit their video feed, but they still need to be plugged into a power receptacle. There are several specialty indoor cameras, including baby cameras that record temperature, humidity, and air quality in a baby’s room.

Wired Outdoor Cameras

Wired outdoor cameras are connected to a central recording device typically with an ethernet cable. They can be mounted on walls or ceilings and do not need to be plugged into an outlet. Many wired cameras can be used outdoors or indoors, and typically require professional installation.

Wireless Outdoor Cameras

Photo by Alan J. Hendry on Unsplash

Wireless outdoor cameras are similar to their indoor counterparts but are more extensive and weather-resistant. Some include an integrated spotlight and siren to help scare away intruders. They generally have a wide field of view (110 degrees or more) and cover a large area.

Wire-Free Outdoor Cameras

Wire-free outdoor cameras are wireless cameras that operate on batteries and are usually rechargeable. Thus, they do not have to be plugged into an outlet. They record when they detect motion and are very simple to install. Wire-free cameras typically have the same features as wireless cameras, except they can not record continuously due to battery power limitations. Some wire-free cameras have the option of attaching a solar panel to help keep the batteries charged.

Floodlight Security Cameras

Photo Credit: Flickr

These are outdoor wireless cameras with a large floodlight that turns on when the camera does. This helps them capture more explicit video and potentially scare away intruders. These can be installed to replace existing floodlights.

Video Doorbells

Photo Credit: Flickr

This popular type of outdoor camera replaces your standard doorbell with one that has a camera inside. Video doorbells record when they detect motion or when the doorbell is pressed. It then opens two-way audio on your smartphone or smart TV so you can see and talk to whoever is at your front door. It also records the interaction if you did not answer the ring to view the footage later. Video doorbells can be hardwired into your existing doorbell wiring. There are a few battery-powered models as well. These are a simple DIY project.

What Are the Benefits Of Security Cameras

In determining whether a security camera system is worth the money, we need to look at the benefits it brings to our homes and offices. Most police divisions and crime investigating teams would always agree that security cameras are worth their money because it makes their job easier. With security cameras, safeguarding a place and monitoring such an area’s activities is more comfortable to achieve. However, most of these camera systems are expensive and can range in price depending on the system.

Some security cameras can be expensive. This is why we ask the question of “Are security cameras worth the money?” comes in. It is important to note that there are different types of security cameras and you could buy the ones you can afford. The question remains though are you getting quality for what you are spending? As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. On this note, I will be listing some of the benefits of good quality security cameras. We will then decide if the work that these security cameras perform is worth the money we buy them for.

Below are some of the benefits of security cameras:

Decrease Crime Rate

Photo Credit: Flickr

A video doorbell allows you to answer the door and screen visitors while you’re away. The perpetrator will realize that your home is being monitored.

Prowlers who attempt to break in through backyards and garages can also be deterred. Motion sensing outdoor cameras can begin recording when the lights turn on, adding another layer of protection to your home. The prosecution threat is much more significant when cameras are present, so thieves will likely seek easier targets in other neighborhoods.

Helps Monitor Your Kids and The Elderly

Photo by Pixabay

Many parents have babysitters, and nannies watch their children while they’re away. These security cameras can keep you informed of what’s happening at home. Even when you’re out of town, you’ll be able to check in with your smartphone and see how things are going.

And you’ll also find more comfort knowing that your loved ones are safe.

Insurance Benefits

After a burglary, you might have to make an insurance claim. This is where your high-definition security camera comes into play. With the footage, you can easily document the incident and validate your insurance claim. Also, a security system can typically lead to discounts on home security of up to 20%.

Security Cameras Aid The Police

If a burglary does occur, your professionally-installed security cameras will have recorded the incident in high-definition. Police can use these videos and images to capture the culprit, prevent future crimes, and possibly return your items.

In conclusion, the average cost of a home invasion averages around $2,000 in stolen goods and property damage. But did you know that, in the long run, it’s less expensive to purchase a home alarm system? When you factor in the invasive nature, it’s an even smaller price to pay. Better yet, because security cameras halt thieves in their tracks, you may not feel the need to move after a break-in event.

The cost of a professionally installed security camera system can translate into feeling more secure. It’s nice knowing everything you’ve worked so hard for is better protected when your away.

You cannot have your eyes looking over your home or business 24/7, but security cameras can. They will deter any suspicious people, as clear evidence can be used against them.

Authorities consider video footage recorded by security cameras to be valid evidence of a crime. Security cameras can, therefore, help your case in the courtroom. Security cameras in a home have proven that burglars/intruders are likely less to target a house with cameras. If a burglar noticed surveillance cameras, 50% of offenders said they would not continue the robbery and run.

Thus, these benefits show us that security cameras are worth their money because we can’t oversee everything that is going on in our environment.

For more information on security cameras contact us here.