Rules, Regulations, and Benefits: Why people get security camera systems

There are a ton of reasons why people or companies buy security cameras. Some of which are universal and some of which are because of specific rules or regulations that their industry faces.

The Top 4 Universal Reasons Why People Buy Security Cameras

1. Check-In, Remotely

Whether it is to see how a pet or relative is doing or to make sure employees are being productive, checking in remotely is one of the top reasons people buy security cameras.

If being able to check-in remotely is your primary motivation, here are some things that you want to do:

Be glad, since almost every camera system has this feature.
Check out the apps and see if they meet your needs and you like the program.
Figure out how long that technical support will last.

2. Know when Someone is Coming or Going

Whether it is employees showing up on time, teenagers sneaking out at night, or maintenance people working on the yard, knowing who is coming and going is an important part of any security camera system.

If being alerted to people coming and going is your primary motivation, here are some things that you want to do:

Choose a camera system with Advanced Video Analytics like Motion Detection, Intrusion Detection, or Face detection to Trigger email and text alerts when someone is on-premises.
Higher resolution cameras mean more information is recorded and are more effective at determining an individual’s identification.
If your goal is to capture license plates pay attention to lighting and place cameras where vehicles are forced to slow down or stop. For the reasons why this is important, see our license plate guide.

3. Discourage Crime

Visible security cameras deter crime. This is one of the biggest reasons all of our products are white: to make them obvious.

After a home has been broken into, it is four times more likely to be burglarized, again--usually within six weeks of the initial crime. -ASU

60% of burglars say they move on to another target when they see security cameras. -UNC

60% of break-ins occur during the day when homes are unoccupied. -JSU

A recent North Carolina university study determined that 60% of burglars move on to a different target when they see security cameras. If you want to know more about the crime stats in your neighborhood, The LexisNexis Community Crime Map is the best source we have found. A sample image of the last 500 crimes in SCW's hometown (the beautiful, idealized, resort town: Asheville NC) is located to the right.

If discouraging crime is your primary motivation, here are some things that you want to do:

Plan camera placement carefully to cover entrances and exits and maximize your ability to capture clear footage of a suspect's face in case of a break-in. We'd be happy to do this for you.
Place cameras where they can be easily seen to maximize deterrence.
Consider the pros and cons of wide-angle and zoom cameras. A wider lens can allow you to cover more area with fewer cameras, but a narrow lens allows you to identify or recognize a person at a further distance.
Consider the pros and cons of Impact Resistant IK10 glass and anti-reflective glass. IK10 glass is a great solution when vandalism is an issue, but anti-reflective glass will see better at night.
Low-light cameras like the Archer, Lookout, or Knight can help you capture extremely high-quality footage in low light scenarios.

4. Lower Liability

Although liability insurance fraud, like fake slip-and-fall lawsuits, is more of a business concern than a homeowner’s concern, both homeowners and businesses have the assurance that they are protected from false claims.

If lowering liability is your primary motivation, here are some things that you want to do:

Think about how much footage you need to keep on hand. One week? Thirty days? Ninety days? The longer you store footage, the higher your chance of getting a false claim dismissed.
Choose a system that can record on motion and/or one that uses more advanced compression methods (like H.265) to get the most out of your hard drive space.
Determine if you care about having a backup storage solution.

Reasons Unique to Certain Industries

Some industries are required to have cameras. Some get special insurance or productivity benefits from having them. These specific reasons, including regulations, legal requirements, workflow benefits, and other considerations should not be construed as legal advice.

We are not lawyers/legal professionals. Nothing on this website should be misconstrued as legal advice.