Camera and Sensor Placement Best Practices

Photo by Victor Garcia

Originally Posted On: https://newgenerationhomepro.com/camera-and-sensor-placement-best-practices/

In 2017, there were over 319,000 robberies in the United States according to the FBI. Placing security cameras around your home helps to deter potential thieves.

But if your cameras are placed in the wrong areas they can’t help. This guide will give you a few tips on where to place security cameras so they can protect your home.

It doesn’t matter how great your security systems cameras are if they are not in the right place they won’t help in the event of a robbery. Knowing where to place outdoor security cameras is important. You can only catch the thieves if your cameras are in the right spot.

We’ll take a look at the best places to put cameras to catch and ward off thieves.

Having a security camera at your front door is crucial. An estimated 34% of all burglars enter through the front door of your home.

Some homeowners place front door cameras on the roof’s eave making them easy for a burglar to knock out. Others place them on the second story.

The best front door security camera placement is about 7 feet up and pointing at a downward angle so that it captures a few feet in front of the door. This positioning will record facial images to help the police catch the crooks. If you do not have a second story a wire cage can be installed around the camera to prevent tampering.

Having a camera pointing downward at the thieves before they even enter your home can deter the crime from happening in the first place.

The front door is a great place to put a security camera because you will also be able to see who is at the door before answering. Doorbell cameras have also become a popular tool for home security.

After the front door is ruled out, most thieves look for a back door or side door option to enter the home. About 22% of robbers enter your home through the back door. Indeed, most homes’ back doors are not as secure as the front door.

A stranger walking around in someone’s backyard or behind the house is more suspicious than someone standing on the front porch. Nosey neighbors may spot them when looking out their window and see that something is not right.

A home security camera placement at the back and side doors will deter burglars from using that point of entry. Similarly, place the camera like the front door camera, but if there is a window adjacent to the side or back door try to include both the door and the window in the cameras field of vision.

Keep the cameras out of reach of the thieves to prevent tampering and always make sure your cameras are fully weather-proof to protect them from the elements.

If you can get your backdoor camera to cover other areas of your property such as a shed, do try to include it in the camera’s vision.

If none of your home’s doors are easily accessible crooks usually move on to windows. First-floor windows are prime targets for a thief who is looking to smash and grab quickly.

Approximately 23% of burglars break into a home using a first-floor window. A window near the back of the house that cannot be seen from the street is usually the one they choose. This decreases the chance that cars or people passing by will see them breaking into the home.

If you have windows like these then this is the third area you need to secure with outdoor security cameras.

Another option is placing a camera inside the home and pointing it to look out through the window. No burglar wants to reach a window and see a camera staring back at him.

Make sure your cameras have night vision so they can see the would-be robbers at dark. It may be very difficult for police to work with video footage that isn’t filmed with a night vision camera.

Believe it or not, but a garage door can be one of the easiest points of entry for burglars. Most garages also have a door that leads straight inside the home that homeowners usually leave unlocked.

Do you have a manual or a remote garage door? One way thieves break into homes is by stealing the garage door opener from an unlocked car in the driveway. Then they simply come back at night and open up your garage door with the remote.

Other thieves can break into a garage door in about ten seconds by using a simple coat hanger.

If your garage is a weak point on your property installing a security camera is a good option. Consider pointing a security camera at your garage door/ Place the camera above the door and pointed downward so that it captures the entirety of your driveway or as much as you can.

A garage door camera keeps a watchful eye of your vehicles, children’s bikes, barbeque grills, sports equipment, and tool you keep in the garage.

We get a lot of questions about outdoor security cameras. Here are the answers to these top questions.

How many security cameras do I need? As a general rule of thumb, a home usually requires about four cameras, but everyone’s home has different needs. New Generation Home Pro provides free consultations and can help you decide how many cameras are needed for your home.

Where to put security cameras if I live in a condo or apartment? Securing condos are apartments come with their unique challenges but much of the rules for houses also apply to condos and apartments. New Generation Home Pro would be happy to come out and inspect your condominium and make a recommendation for camera placement.

The placement of your security camera can make the difference in catching the crooks or preventing a home robbery in the first place. We hope you enjoyed this guide on where to place security cameras around your home.

Every home has its own unique security needs. Contact us for a free consultation and we’ll address your security concerns and set up a home security system to protect your home and keep your family safe.