Security Cameras—It Matters Where You Install Them

Security cameras are very useful in monitoring who goes in and out of a house. The way these devices are installed, however, sometimes enables them to capture more than they should. Security cameras can capture and record a crime unfolding, and can successfully foil any suspect’s plan. The eyes of the modern security system could be right where you need them: in the right place at the right time.

Hidden Cameras

Not all placements are convenient, though. For starters, covert surveillance—unauthorized installation of hidden cameras—is considered illegal. California, Rhode Island, and New York specifically prohibit security cameras in public areas that are considered ‘private’, like restrooms and locker rooms. Delaware and Connecticut require signs to inform people of the cameras’ presence.

Neighbor to Neighbor

Private areas in a public place is one thing; private areas in a private place is another. In September 2013, an issue was raised in Boise, ID when a lady complained that her neighbor’s security camera was trained on her bedroom and outdoor tub. The camera’s owner clarified that it’s a low-cost dummy installed to fool would-be thieves and vandals. He wasn’t cited by the police for voyeurism.

Security cameras are helpful tools in preventing crime, but individuals must be informed of their existence. Ideally, homeowners should have security companies install the cameras strategically to avoid any legal problems.