How to Hide a Camera in Plain Sight
Hidden Security Cameras
When it comes to security cameras, you can choose whether you want them installed in visible locations or have them hidden within your building.
There are two different perspectives with this topic.
Keep them in plain sight to deter crimes from occurring. Thieves are less likely to target your home or business if they know cameras are recording.
You don’t want a thief to find them and disable them. Plus, you need to know what people are up to when they think no one else is watching.
Both methods have merit, and you may choose a combination of both for various reasons.
Surveillance Laws and Regulations
Before you install security cameras around your home or business, you should research any laws in your area that regulate surveillance. If you want to hide surveillance cameras within your home or private property, you are probably within your rights if you are recording video without audio. Recording conversations are subject to entirely different rules and generally require consent. Most states have restrictions to surveillance cameras in areas such as bathrooms, where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
If you want to hide surveillance cameras at a business or commercial property, you also need to check state laws. You are not allowed to hide cameras in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as restrooms, dressing rooms, hotel rooms, or locker rooms.
How to Hide a Security Camera
Hiding surveillance cameras inside your child’s stuffed animals is something that generally happens in movies, but is not always as effective in real life. If you are looking to disguise a camera in your home, you could try the following ideas.
-
The foliage of a potted plant
-
On a bookshelf
-
In a box of tissues
-
In an old appliance
-
Up high in a corner or on the ceiling
The foliage of a potted plant
On a bookshelf
In a box of tissues
In an old appliance
Up high in a corner or on the ceiling
-
Smoke alarms
-
Electrical outlets
-
Shiny desk accessories
-
Light switch plates
Smoke alarms
Electrical outlets
Shiny desk accessories
Light switch plates
The size of your surveillance camera will make a difference as to where you can hide it. Nanny cams or smaller baby monitor-type cameras can be placed in more covert places if you are choosing to hide the cameras themselves.
If you are hiding a surveillance camera indoors, make sure the lens is not obstructed. Then, check that you have a close power source that allows for keeping the cords out of sight. Finally, ensure that the distance and field of vision on the camera is sufficient to get clear video footage. If you choose a wireless security camera, the location you select will need a stable internet signal. If you have a battery-powered camera, note approximately how long the battery will last and check it regularly to make sure it’s working.
-
In a tree or shrub
-
Under the eaves of your home
-
In a birdhouse
-
Up high on an exterior wall
In a tree or shrub
Under the eaves of your home
In a birdhouse
Up high on an exterior wall
-
In an exterior lamp
In an exterior lamp
If you setup a security camera outside, think about how you will protect it from the elements and how the camera will perform in various lighting conditions.
Bookshelf cameras, dome cameras, fisheye cameras, and bullet cameras are just a few options our team can offer for designing an effective surveillance system for your home or business. Call us today and let us provide you with a free consultation with one of our security experts.
Explore Our Other Blogs
3 Types of Security Lights
Your security system is only useful if you can see what is going on when you can’t be there. This also means that when it gets dark, your cameras need to be able to capture the image clearly. To do this past dusk will require that you set up security lighting. Additionally, check out the…
Fire Systems for the Manufacturing Industry
Few industries face as many fire safety concerns as manufacturing does, and the consequences of poor fire safety can be catastrophic. From 2017 to 2021, roughly 36,784 fires occurred yearly at industrial or manufacturing properties, causing $1.5 billion in direct property damage. With materials prone to combust or explode, industrial businesses must take extra care…
How Fast Can Fire Spread?
What Is Fire? Fire is the result of a chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation is the combination of oxygen with another substance. In the case of a fire, the oxidation happens so quickly that light, heat, and sound are released. A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel to burn. These factors are frequently referred to…
Best Security System Setups for Senior Citizens
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 90% of senior citizens want to stay in their homes as they age even if they need day-to-day assistance or have ongoing health issues like early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Unfortunately, criminals often target senior citizens as victims. Thieves assume older people will not be able…
How Do Wireless Doorbells Work?
A doorbell is a pretty self-explanatory tool—you press the button outside, and a chime goes off inside, alerting the homeowner that someone is at the front door. Like everything else, though, today’s technology has brought even the humble doorbell into the limelight as an indispensable tool for convenience and security. Pros and Cons of Wireless…
Winter Commercial Fire Safety Tips
While fire safety and prevention are crucial year-round, unique fire hazards accompany winter’s freezing temperatures. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that many holiday-related factors contribute to an increased fire risk during the winter months, and commercial settings are just as vulnerable. Besides creating and reviewing company-wide fire safety procedures, here are 4 tips…
Are You a Spectrum Customer Losing Service?
When Spectrum closed the doors on its home security system business in February 2020, many customers were left high and dry. The Spectrum Backstory Spectrum is a subsidiary of Charter Communications, the second-largest cable provider in the country offering service in 42 states. Charter inherited Spectrum in a 2016 merger with Time Warner Cable and Bright House…
How Security Cameras Work at Night
Security Camera Night Vision Light is crucial for a camera to work. Without light, the camera can’t see anything, so how do security cameras work at night? Infrared radiation (IR), or infrared light, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to human eyes. It is essentially energy, a heat, that all objects emanate….
Why Are Fire Hydrants Different Colors?
The eye-catching colors of a fire hydrant are hard to miss, whether you’re walking through a city or driving around a neighborhood. What many don’t realize, however, is that these colors are integral in helping emergency responders identify and assess their available resources when preparing to fight a fire. Fire hydrant colors are distinct to…
Do You Know How Your Alarm System Communicates?
What is alarm monitoring? One of the most sought-after features for residential and commercial security systems is 24/7 alarm monitoring. Monitored security systems are connected to a central monitoring facility with staff who review tripped alarms, verify emergencies, and contact relevant emergency services. Monitors generally reach at least two phone numbers connected to a residence…