It’s an increasingly common sight in our residential areas: homes with CCTV cameras trained on the gates or the doors. Once a clear indication of the presence of the rich or famous, CCTV is becoming a standard part of newly-installed burglar alarm systems.

Why use CCTV with your burglar alarm?

For some people, in areas ranging from wealthy neighbourhoods to underprivileged estates, regular aggravation and break-ins are a fact of life. Constant problems with people coming onto or into your property, or vandalising your home can cause extreme stress and anxiety, often leading to depression, loss of work and serious health problems. Adding CCTV either on its own or as part of a burglar alarm system can help to deter people from approaching your property, and can also be used as evidence if a prosecution is brought.

Can I use dummy CCTV cameras?

Many people choose to reduce the cost of installing a CCTV burglar alarm system by using dummy cameras instead of real ones. These cameras don’t record any images, but may act as a deterrent. Our advice is not to do this – particularly if you are the victim of regular attacks. It is possible to tell the difference between dummy cameras and the real thing – just as it’s possible to tell the difference between a dummy burglar alarm and the real thing. If you really want to stop the problem, install cameras that feed pictures onto a recordable DVR, which you can back up, so that you have timed and dated evidence if you need it.

Insuring your system

It has been known for CCTV cameras to be damaged by those who don’t want to be seen – make sure you add the system on to your insurance so that you don’t have to pay out for the full replacement value if anything happens to them. If you’re serious about installing a CCTV system alongside your burglar alarm, always talk to an expert first – they will be able to give you the best advice on what sort of system you need and where the cameras need to be positioned for the best coverage of your home.

SecurityCam is dedicated to providing homeowners and businesses with burglar alarm systems that suit their needs. All our security consultants are trained and experienced, and everyone that comes to your home or workplace to assess, install or maintain your burglar alarm has been screened to ensure that you’re getting the best possible service from a trustworthy source. All our systems comply with current British Standards and we’re constantly striving to ensure that you’re 100% happy with every contact you have with our business. To find out more, or to arrange a security survey, call us on 0845 644 9321 or complete our online enquiry form.

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