Pros & Cons of Surveillance Cameras: An In-Depth Guide

Maybe you’ve moved into a new home, or maybe you’ve just had kids. Whatever your reason, you may be considering getting security cameras to protect your home and family. But with so many expensive options, is getting a surveillance camera worth it?

In this article, I’ll go over the pros and cons of surveillance cameras to help you make your decision. From the initial and ongoing costs to how well they actually prevent crime, here is all the information you need to decide if cameras are worth it or not.

While surveillance cameras can deter crime from happening and can catch crimes in progress, cameras can cost up to hundreds of dollars and hackings have occurred before. Here is a comprehensive list of the pros and cons you should take into account when making your decision.

Pros

Security cameras prevent crime

Even just the presence of cameras, especially outdoor cameras easily visible, can prevent crime. A study in The Economic Journal looked at the effect of surveillance cameras installed in subway stations and found that they reduced crime by about 25 percent. Some of the crime was deterred, while some was displaced to areas around the city center.

You can gather evidence of crimes

Even if security cameras don’t prevent crime in all situations, they can gather video evidence of crimes-in-progress, which could be useful during a court case. Especially with mounted cameras that upload to a cloud, it’s easy to download that footage and send it to the police, if need be.

They can give you peace of mind

Aside from its material effects in preventing crime, just the mere presence of security cameras may give you peace of mind, which could be worth the cost on its own.

They’re convenient

Security cameras are helpful in other ways aside from crime.

• You can use them to greet your kid when they get home from school.
• Give directions to a delivery person leaving a package on your porch.
• Check if you left the lights on.

In other words, security cameras let you check in at home from anywhere in the world, and if the cameras have two-way audio, you can communicate with whoever is in your home.

Homeowner’s insurance discount

Depending on your provider, you could get a discount of up to 5 percent by adding a security system with cameras to your home, although your eligibility will differ based on your homeowner’s insurance company.

Cons

High initial cost

There are both one-time and ongoing costs when it comes to security cameras. The cost of a single camera ranges from $20 to $400, and keep in mind that you may need multiple indoor and outdoor cameras, depending on the size of your home.

But aside from the cost of the equipment itself, you may have to pay up to $25 a month to monitor your cameras, either yourself or through the professional monitoring service, as well as cloud storage for your video footage.

You may also have to pay for a permit for your cameras, depending on your locality, as well as added electricity costs, with wired cameras. Additionally, if you pay for professional installation, it could cost around $100.

DIY installation is a hassle

Even if you choose to install your cameras yourself, it could be a bit of a hassle, especially if you want to wire them to your home’s electricity. Installation may also require hidden costs, like cables and Wi-Fi extenders, or tools you don’t already own.

Cybersecurity issues

Anything that’s connected to the internet is at risk of being hacked, and security cameras are no exception. Ring security cameras, for example, have been hacked repeatedly in the past few years, as reported in The New York Times. While CCTV cameras that aren’t connected to the internet aren’t at risk of hacking, you won’t be able to view your camera’s footage remotely, which may defeat the purpose for many.

Additional Factors to Consider

Another factor to consider is that security cameras, on their own, may not be sufficient for a home security system. Cameras can’t see everything. Obviously, you don’t want cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms for privacy reasons.

This may require you to buy a larger security system with elements like door and window sensors, glass break sensors, and motion detectors. In other words, buying security cameras may not be enough to protect your home on their own, so I recommend taking into account the cost of a larger security system.

That being said, most sensors are relatively cheap and easy to install by simply sticking them on the wall; the cameras are the biggest expense in a security system by a wide margin.

Are Surveillance Cameras Worth it?

In my opinion, surveillance cameras are worth it if you live in a single-family home or townhouse. However, if you live in an apartment building, they’re probably not necessary, especially if you have a doorman or other security.

But if you have kids, getting a surveillance camera can be a worthwhile investment to protect your home and give you peace of mind. Even if you only use them to check in on packages and prevent theft, they could pay for themselves. Especially if you have valuables or run a small business from home. Cameras could also be a great way for property managers to check in on a situation without having to physically travel there.

However, if privacy or hacking is a concern, I would not recommend getting surveillance cameras. Instead, you should stick with security sensors, which provide notifications of movement without showing you what is happening in your home.

Perhaps a good way to gauge if surveillance cameras are worth it for you is to buy a single camera, install it, and see how much you use it and whether or not you found it to be worth its price. Many companies offer free returns or 30-day money-back guarantees, and with cameras starting as low as $20, you don’t stand to lose much by trying one out.

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