# Dummy security cameras **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214 "2019-04-08T13:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/1 "2019-04-08T13:38:46Z")
I am considering installing a fake security camera or two. Most come with a blinking red LED to heighten the realism of the product. But reviewers on Amazon are mixed as to whether the blinking red light makes it appear more or less authentic. Some are convinced the light makes it look more real, others do not install the batteries because the blinking LED makes it look fake. Thoughts? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/2 "2019-04-08T13:45:04Z")
Something strikes me as phony about a blinking red light but I might be convinced by a solid red light or a green light. A blinking light seems to just be trying to say “Look at me” rather than something like “Power on” or “Recording”. That said, I live a pretty clean and uneventful life so I’ve never had to roll the dice on whether a security camera was legitimate or not and test my theories. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/3 "2019-04-08T14:11:10Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Something strikes me as phony about a blinking red light but I might be convinced by a solid red light or a green light. A blinking light seems to just be trying to say “Look at me” rather than something like “Power on” or “Recording”. > > That said, I live a pretty clean and uneventful life so I’ve never had to roll the dice on whether a security camera was legitimate or not and test my theories. I’ll second that thought and add that I am betting dummies only deter the beginning perps. My money is that most professional crooks either don’t care about cameras or can tell a phony from 25 yards away. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/4 "2019-04-08T14:13:55Z")
Real security systems have become so reasonably priced that the dummy cameras are less attractive IMO. A friend of mine has a system at home covering front and rear doors, two outbuildings, a kennel, and his driveway. He can scroll through the cameras from his cellphone. Last year he caught a guy snooping around his property and stealing some power tools. He showed the cops the footage and they recognized the guy. When arrested he said he assumed all the cameras he saw were fake. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/5 "2019-04-08T14:19:45Z")
It occurs to me that I’d be more likely to be fooled by some cheap USB cameras mounted up (but not powered/connected) than by the ubiquitous “shoe box” style security camera. The former would look more like a DIY security job that’s presumably hooked up to something. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/6 "2019-04-08T14:32:50Z")
I’ll second the statement that blinking red lights are not usually found on real, working cameras. It’s strictly a Hollywood invention (along with the continued use of swipe access cards instead of proximity cards). It just films better. Also, the red light doesn’t come on whenever the security guys view the camera…it’s on all the time the camera is powered, if there’s a light at all. Dummy cameras in commercial applications are a huge premises liability risk. In a household setting, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/7 "2019-04-08T14:49:03Z")
I’ll also say that the blinking light makes a camera look fake. Especially if a cheap looking camera to begin with. A strobe light mounted on a camera, mounted on the roof of a Walmart with a big sign seems legit, but a little camera mounted on garage, not so much. Of course, the flip side is that without the blinking light, many people won’t even see the camera in the first place. > [@kopek](#): > > I’ll second that thought and add that I am betting dummies only deter the beginning perps. My money is that most professional crooks either don’t care about cameras or can tell a phony from 25 yards away. IME, cameras don’t stop a lot of people since they’re not looking for them. At least the ones that get caught, that is. I’ve had plenty of people get picked up for shoplifting in my store that just about made eye contact with the camera. > [@kayaker](#): > > Real security systems have become so reasonably priced that the dummy cameras are less attractive IMO. True, but in some cases the appeal for a cheap one is not having to run wires. Wireless cameras are getting more popular, but I’ve avoided adding more cameras to my system for the simple fact that I don’t want to crawl around in an attic running wires. I’m not quite as nimble as I was 10+ years ago when I installed it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/8 "2019-04-08T14:51:23Z")
One other thing, while the prices are coming down, there’s still a big difference. Real cameras are in the $50-$100 range while fake cameras are less than $10. You could split the difference, install real camera, but put off connecting them to anything for the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/9 "2019-04-08T16:33:43Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I’ll second that thought and add that I am betting dummies only deter the beginning perps. My money is that most professional crooks either don’t care about cameras or can tell a phony from 25 yards away. I really don’t think so. Take a look at [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Recording-Business-Armo/dp/B074CKFLR3/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=fake+security+camera&qid=1554740914&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1) and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Security-Realistic-Surveillance-Businesses-Armo/dp/B01HDZM6N8/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=fake+security+camera&qid=1554740982&s=gateway&sr=8-9). Anyway, if I am a burglar and I see 24 houses on the block and one of them has what might be a real security camera and the other 23 have nothing, I’m not gonna hit the one with the possible camera. mmm ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/10 "2019-04-08T16:53:04Z")
Fun fact: a standard red Solo cup fits perfectly over the lens of one of those dome cameras, and fits snugly enough that friction will hold it there. But yours will be fake anyways so I guess that’s neither here nor there. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/11 "2019-04-08T16:57:04Z")
I’ve been playing around with cams\* and reading about various ones lately. None of these have a blinking red light. So, yeah, blink = fake. - A Wyze and DIY Pi Zero W. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/12 "2019-04-08T18:32:38Z")
Real security cameras are cheap enough (for instance, you can get two for $70 or so) so that paying for fakes doesn’t save you much, especially if you want a realistic-looking fake (ones I see for sale that say “Security Camera” on the side don’t strike me as able to fool people). And yeah, night vision LEDs don’t blink on real cameras. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/13 "2019-04-08T18:56:09Z")
My car (a Jeep Liberty) has a blinking red light in it when it’s locked. Is it fake? I bought it used so I don’t know anything about its security system. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/14 "2019-04-08T19:23:48Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > My car (a Jeep Liberty) has a blinking red light in it when it’s locked. Is it fake? I bought it used so I don’t know anything about its security system. Car alarm systems generally blink; home security cams do not. By the way, one can also cheaply purchase a sign for a real home security company and post it outside one’s home. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/15 "2019-04-08T20:18:36Z")
My Sonata has a blinking red light when locked but doesn’t have an alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dummy-security-cameras/832214/16 "2019-04-09T16:04:30Z")
If you have a fake camera you need to physically inspect it every day. Otherwise the vandals you’re trying to prevent will knock it askew and realize it’s a dummy when you let it dangle for a week. As my neighbour learned.