A lot of people are installing security cameras in their own homes. Some are suggesting that this is taking things one step too far. They believe we are too obsessed with our personal security, and that cameras really don’t add anything to it. So are they correct about this? That is actually an important question, but not one that has a very simple answer. Essentially, whether or not you actually need a security camera simply depends on your own needs. There are advantages and disadvantages to having cameras, and it is up to you to weigh these up. Let’s review a few of these.

First of all, we believe that having a camera will deter a burglar from coming in. Of course a burglar will always choose the house without a camera if that choice is there, there are plenty of situations where it actually isn’t. A security camera is generally very easy to disable. All it really takes is cutting a wire, or covering the lens. Hence, you must make sure that you don’t develop a false sense of security just because you have a camera. Then, people think that if something does happen in their home, they will have video evidence to identify the people who did it. However, only those who have followed all of the rules will have evidence that is admissible in court.

Some people say that home security cameras are really just a way for security companies to get rich, by implanting us with the idea that we are totally unsafe without them. The truth is that our society is indeed becoming more Orwellian, with Big Brother always watching us. At the same time, we live in a society where crime happens, and we must be able to protect ourselves from that. As such, it could be said that security cameras may be more necessary in some homes than in others? Someone who lives in an apartment, for instance, may need it to be able to see who wants to gain entry. Similarly, if you live in a celebrity home, you may want to make sure that you keep the riff-raff out. Or perhaps you live in a very poor and deprived area of town. Putting up cameras here may just allow you to help the community as a whole. This is because you could identify perpetrators of street crimes, and deter them from engaging in any. Clearly, there is no simple answer as to whether or not a security camera at home is actually overkill.