If you are like me, you are a big fan of home security cameras. I think the wireless security camera is one of the best inventions to come out of the IoT era. The interesting thing about it is that you never know what your security cameras are going to record.
The owner of a Dayton, OH home found that out the hard way when someone attempted to set his porch on fire in the wee hours of the morning. Dayton police released security camera footage showing a man approaching the porch, attempting to set a piece of furniture on fire, and then running away.
Fortunately, no one was hurt and the perpetrator was unsuccessful. Now, police are asking the public to take a look at the video and provide any information that might help investigators.
Great at Deterring Burglars
I am no home security expert, but I am willing to bet most people who install security cameras do so to deter burglars. I do not suspect many homeowners were thinking about criminals attempting to set their houses on fire when they installed their cameras.
At any rate, cameras are great burglary deterrents. Criminals are not big fans of home security cameras for obvious reasons. If given the choice between hitting a home equipped with cameras and one without, the smart burglar chooses the one without.
The deterrent effects explain why home security providers like Vivint push video cameras so hard. Video cameras could be the most effective home security device in a system – even more effective than window sensors, door sensors, and audible alarms.
Above and Beyond Burglary Deterrence
As the Dayton story demonstrates, home security cameras go above and beyond mere burglary deterrence. This particular case is one in which security footage might possibly help the police catch an arsonist. But why stop there?
I have read stories describing how home security cameras revealed the presence of a bear roaming through a neighborhood. Security cameras have revealed everything from raccoons in the garbage to package pirates roaming neighborhoods looking for easy scores.
Inside, security cameras help parents keep an eye on their children. I have read stories of consumers using hidden cameras to keep an eye on the babysitter, a contractor, and even out-of-town house guests. A modern camera with built-in audio capabilities can make it easier for homeowners to check in with their pets during the day.
Recording What We Don’t See
I suppose it all boils down to one simple fact: home security cameras record but we do not normally see. Sometimes the footage is disturbingly alarming. Sometimes it is good for a laugh. The most fascinating thing to me is this: all the things security cameras record now still happened before the cameras existed. We did not know about those things, and we didn’t care.
We have access to so much more information in the 21st century that being overwhelmed by it all is normal. Maybe that’s why some people do not invest in security cameras. They would rather not know what goes on outside the house. As for me, I am all in.
I appreciate having the ability to keep an eye on my home day and night. When I’m away for the day, I can check in periodically. And when I am away for an extended amount of time, alerts sent to my phone keep me appraised of any activity my cameras pick up.
Someday my cameras might reveal some surprising footage. Hopefully, it will not be a random stranger trying to set my house on fire.