Hidden cameras are a great way to keep track of everything in your home. Some creative camera options to help you do this are virtually impossible to spot!
Whether you’re looking to protect valuables in your home or want to ensure your cleaner or nanny is being honest, hidden cameras are a superb way to boost your home security.
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Why Choose Hidden Surveillance Cameras?
With home security cameras becoming ever more affordable, many people believe hidden surveillance cameras are not necessary.
While traditional NVR systems offer excellent value for money, they have two significant disadvantages:
- Encourage crime: Home security systems are easy to identify. While this may deter amateur thieves, it can signal to more professional burglars that you have something worth stealing. The mindset is that if you’ve gone through the trouble of installing security cameras, it must have been for a reason.
- Encourage interference: If a thief is aware of a security system, they could take steps to disable or disconnect the system.
Hidden security cameras are unlikely to be detected. Therefore a criminal won’t know to disable them. Also, the property would appear unprotected by video surveillance, so criminals may believe there is nothing worth stealing. You should, of course, ensure your property is protected by an alarm system and secure locks, this would likely repel most thieves, but you may have caught them unsuspectingly on camera by then.
Are Hidden Surveillance Cameras Legal?
Hidden cameras are legal in most states when used to protect your home. However, recording people and using those recordings for nefarious purposes can get you into a lot of trouble.
Placing cameras in areas where there is an expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms and bedrooms, is also a big no-no. You also need to check if the cameras record audio. In many states, audio recording without permission is illegal, so you should make yourself aware of these laws for your state.
You should also consider if you want to record your family or not. If the purpose is just to protect valuable items rather than family members, then it may make sense to arm your system. So you can enable the recording function when the house is empty.
Regardless of your system, you should double-check your local state laws before configuring anything more complex than a basic alarm system.
How to Setup a Hidden Camera?
Battery or Mains Powered.
Before setting up your hidden security camera, you need the think carefully about where it will go.
Some cameras are battery-powered while others need constant power; this could be through a power bank or plugged into the main. Either way, you need to consider how your camera is powered before setting it up.
Field of View
You should consider the field of view and what items or areas you want the camera to cover. If you’re setting up a hidden nanny camera, you may want to install it in your children’s playroom or living room. If you want to protect valuables, then make sure to set it up with the field of view covering expensive electronics or jewelry boxes, etc.
In residential settings, It can be best to set up the cameras to view the primary entrances to the home (front door, back door, etc.), as well as the main hallways and stairways.
Hidden Camera Ideas for your home.
Smoke Detector Camera
This is the kind of camera you can hide in plain sight, and nobody would even notice it. Disguised as a smoke detector, these hidden cameras typically have a wide field of view and, when placed on a ceiling, can cover an entire room. The fisheye view can be a little distorted, so if you need more clarity, then this camera may not be the best option for your needs.
It should be noted that these cameras don’t function as smoke detectors, so you will still need a real smoke detector. Take care with the placement, as people may get suspicious if you have two smoke detectors next to each other or in the same room.
Light Bulb Camera
Placing a camera in a lightbulb is a clever way to hide the camera in plain sight. When was the last time you inspected a light bulb? This solution also solves the problem of how to power a hidden camera as well. Like smoke detector cameras, these typically have a wide field of view. You can place them in entrances or rooms and get a good view of all that goes on.
USB Charger Camera
USB charger cameras are easily hidden, and many will also work as a charging socket, so they are not at all obvious. They typically have a more focused field of view, usually around 90 degrees. The only downside is that plug sockets tend to be near the ground, so you need to check the field of view can capture the best angles for what you need.
Radio Alarm Clock Camera
Radio alarm clocks are inconspicuous devices that are good for hiding cameras. They are common in most homes and can be placed on tables and easily angled to cover most areas effectively. Also, having a second or even third purpose makes these multifunctional devices much more than just a camera and helps them blend into your home, so they go unnoticed.
DIY Hidden Camera
If you want to make your own hidden camera, then the possibilities are almost endless. The camera lens need only be a bit bigger than a pin head. With a little work and some basic tools, it is easy to hide a mini camera in a fake book, behind a mirror, in a picture, or even in some electronic devices.