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The security of our homes is something we are all concerned about. Years ago, there were doors, and then locks were invented to protect individual property. Today, technology makes a lot more sophistication possible to the point that you can monitor the inside and outside of your home in real-time no matter where you are. You can use a smartphone to lock doors and many other things inside your home based on what you see through a monitoring system.
There are expensive home security systems that will do all the work for you. But thanks to modern technology, you can do a lot of the work yourself and save a lot of money. Part of the system is to learn how to hide a camera in plain sight. There are systems that will alert you if a door or window is open, and those are good, but they are limited. Cameras are so readily available now that it makes sense to install some to get a higher level of home security.
1. Using cameras
Small cameras that do a great job of recording whatever is in front of them have made great advances in the last few years. They are similar to webcams and can be installed almost anywhere. These cameras can be used outside to monitor what goes on outside your house. You can see an intruder before he or she even gets to your house or apartment. Other cameras record what happens inside. You can also use these cameras to check on kids or pets in your home.
It is true that most criminals are aware of cameras and will wear some sort of covering on their heads to keep them from being identified. They may also figure out how to shut off your Wi-Fi from outside to foil your system. Even so, just a notification that surveillance is in use will act as a deterrent to most criminals. They are looking for an easy target, so just knowing security is there will stop a lot of criminals.
2. Which camera?
There are a lot of cameras out there, so it can be hard to pick one. A lot will depend on what you want to monitor and how you want to use the system. Power can go out, so you may want to look for a battery-powered security camera. This is also a good option if you’re concerned about the Wi-Fi going out — either due to a malfunction or criminal behavior.
Video quality should also be a concern, but higher quality takes up more room on an SD card or other recording material. The cloud would be a good option for the storage of data. But you will have to look for a higher quality video. This will depend on your personal preference to some extent. Often, the lower quality video is fine, but if you’re monitoring a larger area, higher quality would do a better job.
While home security gets the most attention, many business owners also want to have good security equipment for their business. Generally, the same ideas apply for home and business use.
3. Hiding the cameras
It could get complicated, and expensive, to install cameras. It does not have to be that way, however. The simple solution is to learn how to hide a camera. The cameras used for home or business surveillance are very small, and it takes only a little thought and creativity to put them in the right spot. It is a good idea to do some experimenting to get the area you want to monitor just right. Pointing the camera in a general direction may not give you the view you think it will, so it’s a good idea to try some different things to get the right view.
After you get the right view, you will need to think about ways to hide the camera. While thinking of ways to hide the cameras, also think about stability. You don’t want your camera to get knocked around by the slightest breeze. Depending on the location of the camera, you may also want to find a camera that will run on battery power.
4. Why hide the camera?
Often, people put a sign in front of their home or business to let people know the place is monitored. This is a deterrent for lazy criminals who are looking for an easy target. But why bother hiding it? One good reason is that not-so-lazy criminals may appreciate the tip and look for ways to disable your system.
One idea is to use both visible and hidden cameras. The visible one gets the big picture, while hidden ones get a more close-up view of whatever it is you’re monitoring. For close-up monitoring, you will want better quality, so you will need to look for the best 4K security camera. Businesses may also want to use hidden cameras if they suspect employees are stealing. If that’s the case, check out the best security camera for business reviews.
Reasons to hide the camera:
- Prevents cameras from being disabled
- Does not distract from your decor, whether outdoors or indoors
- Gets a closer look at things
- Catch someone in the act if you have suspicions
5. How to hide the camera
If you’re going to hide a camera, it’s a good idea to get a small one. A camera with no wires at all is the best battery-powered security camera.
Here are a few ideas:
- Putting it inside something is a good idea, but be careful not to obstruct the view
- Keep it in a secure place, so it will not get knocked away and fail to record what you want
- Use similar colors and shapes to camouflage the camera
- Look for surfaces that are a natural hiding place, such as under the roof or a shelf indoors
6. Ideas for hiding places
Once you find a camera small enough, it should be easy to find good hiding places. Keep in mind the quality of images. If you’re going to be using this outside at night, it may be worth it to seek a good 4K quality security camera. It is a good idea to avoid wires as much as possible. When cameras are found, it’s usually because of the wires attached. If you do not have wires, it is easy enough to make the camera blend into its surroundings.
Here are the places to hide your camera:
- Trees or bushes. Simply attach it to a tree in your yard. Make sure it’s weatherproof, but these will be hard to spot and will record what you need to record.
- In a PCV pipe, water sprinkler, or outdoor lights.
- Doorbells or birdhouses are natural hiding places.
- Use your windows. It is easy to install one behind a window of your home or business. This could negatively impact night vision, so you may need additional cameras.
- Hide inside regular household items like smoke detectors, stuffed toys, fake rocks or tissue boxes.
- Many cameras have skins available that change the color and texture of the camera. You can easily make a camera look like part of a plant.
- Inside light fixtures are a good option, but make sure the camera can stand the heat the light produces.
- Inside a flower pot or plant. Adding a skin of a similar color to the leaves will make the camera less likely to be found.
- With a skin, you could hide the camera in a bowl of fruit easily, especially if it’s decorative fake fruit.
- If you need to hide one on your body, you can put one on a button, in a handbag or even a pen in your pocket.
Is this legal?
In most cases, you can record the visuals and sound of anything on the property you own or rent. Obviously, you cannot legally hide one in a bathroom where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. But general places around and inside your property are fair game. If you have questions, consult an attorney, but in general, it’s legal to have surveillance equipment on your property. Some states have laws regarding spy cameras, so it’s a good idea to make sure what you’re doing is legal in your state or city.
