Using Dummy Surveillance Cameras Effectively
If you’ve ever watched the TV show “Faking It” where someone tries to convince other people that they are, for example, an orchestra conductor or a racing driver, then you’ll be aware that there’s a lot more to it than just dressing the part. Likewise, if you want to use fake security cameras effectively then just putting a few dummy cases around the place won’t suffice.
By definition, any successful fake must appear to be completely genuine, or at least sufficiently so to pass a casual inspection. If a potential intruder can be convinced from a reasonable distance that you have real CCTV cameras then they won’t venture any closer to find out for sure.
The best dummy cameras use authentic, but empty, casings and are thus superficially indistinguishable from real ones. The same details such as branding information, materials used, robust custom brackets and possibly even indicator LEDs. They will also incorporate a glass lens and dummy wiring.
The latter point is crucial in helping support the illusion, since all operational cameras obviously have at least a power cable and possibly also a data cable to transmit the images. Some modern cameras use a combined power/data cable or a wireless link to transmit video, but there is always a cable securely routed back into a wall somewhere. If there’s no cabling then it’s a dead give away it’s a fake.
Finally, in addition to looking the part, an effective dummy camera has to act the part. In other words it has to be located in the same sort of position that a real one would be. All surveillance cameras tend to be deliberately situated so as to be easily seen – it aids the deterrent effect. But a camera that appears to be in an apparently illogical place with regard to its field of view will make people question its authenticity.