Home Surveillance – Is It Worth It?

While studies show that burglary rates have declined in past years, many people may wonder if we still need to consider home surveillance in this day and age. However, it’s worth considering the fact that home surveillance can prevent many things, from petty theft to full-on home robberies. Whether you’re looking into getting a home surveillance system or are wondering if yours is doing you any good today, it’s worth knowing about the relation between the rise of modern technology and home security.

Online shopping and home security

With modern technology taking the world by storm, online shopping is quite popular, in fact, there were 1.66 billion global digital buyers in 2016 alone. From pricey electronics, home goods, and even groceries, it seems that just about anything can be delivered straight to your door nowadays. This can be super convenient – though as a result, many people take advantage of it and partake in a different kind of burglary – porch pirating.

As it turns out, porch pirates have been around for some time, and with an estimated 23 million Americans having their packages stolen from their porches, it’s no secret that it’s a nationwide problem. Whether it’s an act of desperation or just for the thrill of stealing something unknown to sell it later, porch pirates are just one of the many reasons people might consider installing home surveillance, as not only can the mere sight of a camera deter potential thieves, but you will also have solid evidence to present to the police should the porch pirate follow through.

The pros of high tech cameras

While there are many reasons why one might need home surveillance, there are many overall pros and benefits of having the cameras that many people may not think about. Not only can they be used to identify thieves and other wrongdoers, but having a high tech camera system can help to ease any stress you may experience when it comes to leaving your house unattended. Not to mention you can keep an eye on your place anytime and anywhere – no matter where you may be. And, with high tech now being incorporated into home surveillance, there’s no doubt that even more benefits are involved.

High tech cameras are quickly becoming the prime choice for home surveillance, as they are Wi-Fi enabled and allow the homeowner access to live/recorded footage through their smartphones, TV’s, and tablets. Other more advanced home surveillance allows you to use your voice to see and speak to a visitor through the doorbell – even if you’re miles away.  One such doorbell gadget, Ring, has become quite popular and successful. In fact, a study done on two neighborhoods by the LAPD showed a 50% drop in burglaries when the product was used in one neighborhood, whereas the other (without Ring) remained the same. While there is a multitude of benefits with high tech home surveillance products, there are concerns worth mentioning – especially in the digital day and age we live in.

Home surveillance concerns

Due to the rise in technology, especially when it comes to indoor cameras, it’s not uncommon for people to have concerns with home surveillance.  One of the most major concerns being hacking – which is possibly one of the biggest concerns when it comes to living in such a digital age. While indoor and outdoor cameras can give you peace of mind when you have valuables or pets alone at home, it can often concern people that they’re being watched – literally.

It’s been known to happen through laptop cameras and even baby monitors, so it isn’t illogical to think it could happen via your home surveillance system as well. While hacking may be a concern for many when looking into home surveillance, you don’t have to worry as there are many ways to prevent this from happening. Taking simple measures, like securing your home’s wifi, creating strong passwords, and disconnecting the cameras when not in use can all decrease your odds of being hacked.

While many people choose to get home surveillance for the peace of mind it brings, many are pleasantly surprised and wonder if they should continue keeping it around when “nothing bad happens”. However, in the age of rapidly evolving technology among other factors, getting home surveillance can be a major plus if anything ever were to happen.

Home Surveillance – Is It Worth It?

By: Alicia Nicholson