Thinking of Getting Security Cameras?
Hey everybody – it’s Wayne Nichols with Boss Security Screens. And today we’ll be discussing important considerations when purchasing surveillance cameras for your home. As a retired detective from southern Nevada, the number one thing I sought out in any criminal investigation was surveillance footage. Surveillance cameras have become the norm of our society. Whether you’re grabbing snacks from a local convenience store, shopping at the mall, or even dropping your kids off at school – you’ve come to realize that you’re likely being recorded.
But guess who else realizes they are being recorded? The bad guys, of course! And although surveillance cameras remain a great deterrent to crime, they don’t necessarily prevent the ‘determined criminal’. So, can surveillance cameras be effective in stopping or even mitigating a home burglary? Let’s expand on that by first discussing what types of cameras are available for the average homeowner.
Over the years I’ve come to realize that a great camera system may comprise of using different platforms simultaneously. For example, in my home I’ve been using the Arlo Pro 2 cameras along with a Skybell doorbell camera – both with great success. Initially, I did not like having to have 2 separate apps but with my current settings, today I rarely access the apps on a daily basis (something that also plays in role in the downside to constant notifications).
In regard my Arlo Pro 2 system, here are the pros and cons.
Pros:
Great features with NO subscription. Although Arlo does have a ‘premier’ and ‘elite’ paid subscription plan, that doesn’t mean their free plan skimps on features. For the Arlo Pro 2, the free service more than meets my needs to include: live video streaming, notifications, status settings (such as Armed, Away, Scheduled, etc), free cloud storage for 7 days and rules for what constitutes a recording and or notification (see ‘If that, than this’ rules below).
Battery life. Wow – I am very impressed with the battery life on these wireless / Wi-Fi cameras! I currently use this system at my home in Utah (which has snow and consistent freezing temperatures). Yet, on average I still get about 4 months of battery life on a single charge…that’s impressive and a must since my visits to Utah are infrequent.
Audible alarm. Because Arlo cameras require a hub that connects to your router, it’s nice to know that at any given time I could sound the alarm if I ever had a break-in. When a bad breaks in, even if he’s taking his chances knowing he’s on camera, an audible alarm will certainly make him think twice as to how long he stays inside.
2-way communication. Each Arlo camera has ‘two-way audio’ which allows me to directly speak with anybody on the other end of the camera. Imagine if there was a break-in, not only could I sound the alarm but could also directly address the burglar “Hey! I see you in my home, I’ve called the police!”
‘If that, than this’ rules. This feature earns high praise from me! And more importantly, it’s an available feature for the free-tier (for Arlo Pro 2 users). In short, this is how it works. I currently have 4 cameras (2 outside and 2 inside). But I want my cameras to only record if inside motion is detected. If inside motion is detected, then all 4 cameras begin to record while also pushing out a notification to me. This feature really helps with eliminating or reducing unnecessary push notifications.
Cons:
Easy to steal. In going back to my earlier mention that even bad guys understand they are being recorded - as much as I love my Arlo system – it would be far too easy for a bad to yank down the cordless camera. So, placement consideration of these devices is crucial.
Requirement of recharging. Although I love that Arlo cameras are so easy to install, if you don’t plan on running a power source to them, you’ll need to occasionally recharge the cameras. Simple enough if you’ve installed your camera at arms-length. But what if your installation point was via a ladder? The routine of having to pull out the ladder to access and recharge your cameras could get old rather quickly. And what if you’ve installed 3+ cameras? Depending on usage / notifications, some cameras may need to be charged more frequently than others.
Subscription feature envy. Although I’ve touted Arlo as having great features, even for the free-tier, you can’t help but be envious of the subscription tiers that offer even MORE features such as longer cloud storage options, person vs animal vs vehicle detection, e911 services, ‘Call a friend’ features, and much more.
Now for some additional advice…If you plan installing a camera system at your home, please consider this as well well…limit your notifications as much as possible. I remember when I first installed my Skybell doorbell camera, it was fun to get those real-time alerts when somebody was approaching my door. Whether a package was being delivered or my kids coming home from school, I liked being in the “know”. But being in the “know” can easily get old real quick when you continually receive non-stop notifications. And so, the danger of this is after time you begin to simply dismiss those notifications. You become desensitized to the presence of a visitor at your door.
So, one of the first things I did was change my notifications to only notify me if my doorbell button (on the Skybell) was pressed. But I know what you’re probably thinking – what if somebody approaches my door and doesn’t ring the doorbell? And it’s a great point to make; the tradeoff of forgoing perpetual notifications is not knowing, right? Which is why investing in additional surveillance cameras is worth exploring.
So this goes back to my ultimate goal – I wanted to prioritize the notification of somebody ever gaining access to my home. Therefore, I invested in surveillance cameras that I installed on the interior of my home, one of which faces the front door. So, let’s break down a scenario or two…
A package is being delivered by UPS…after approaching my front door and dropping the package, he presses the doorbell button before he runs back to his truck.
· With my current settings, I would definitely GET a notification!
A door-to-door salesperson approaches my door, but only knocks.
· With my current settings, I would NOT receive any notification!
A burglar approaches my home while I’m at work. He brazenly kicks up the front door to make entry.
· With my current settings, I would definitely GET a notification!
So in conclusion - just remember - it’s important to find a system that works well for your comfort level and desire of notifications. The above are mine, but notification desires could be different from yours – and that’s okay too.
Thank you for reading and I’ll be posting again soon.
Wayne Nicols
Wayne Nichols
Having retired from law enforcement in 2020, Wayne Nichols worked for the Henderson Police Department in Nevada. During his nearly 18-year career, Wayne worked numerous assignments to include being a child exploitation investigator which entailed working undercover while online. In the last 5 years as a detective, he exclusively investigated robberies, officer involved shootings, and homicides. Wayne holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice and has also been a college instructor for 10 years; teaching various criminal justice courses at the College of Southern Nevada.