Your home is a place where you are supposed to feel safe, a place where you also keep all of your treasured possessions that often cannot be replaced. Although in an ideal world we wouldn’t need to protect our belongings, there are still criminals out there who would not hesitate to steal from your home, if given the opportunity. For this reason, CCTV systems are often used as a deterrent for criminals looking to break into homes. On top of this, CCTV systems are also crucial in any police investigation after a crime has been committed. So who exactly are CCTV systems made for?
Advancements in technology have always resulted in products that were originally only saved for a small portion of consumers suddenly being available to the majority. Looking back only 10-15 years, you may have thought that CCTV systems were only for the rich or for businesses. Nowadays, CCTV systems are actually very affordable and have therefore become very popular. Here at DCUK, we have been installing high-quality CCTV Systems for many years, nowadays you don’t have to break the bank to have a CCTV camera installed at your home or business by a leading professional.
With the reductions in manufacturing costs, there have also been many shops or online retailers who will now sell CCTV systems at very low costs, these systems will often require DIY installation. Although the internet has made it easier to teach yourself many things about technology, there are still professionals for a reason. For this reason, in this article, we will be going through the reasons why you should leave it to the experts. If you are looking to protect your home from potential criminals with a security system then call our expert team on 0208 298 1111.
Criminals Prefer DIY Security Systems
Did you know that burglars actually prefer DIY security systems to one that was installed by a professional? This is one huge reason that you stay well clear of attempting the installation yourself. Although cameras outside a property may initially seem like a deterrent for a criminal, seeing a camera that has been set up facing the wrong way or even with an obstacle blocking it may actually seem like an incentive for a criminal to target your home. After all, if a homeowner has been that careless with the installation then they may wonder how else their victim has been careless.
Following on from this point, many homeowners may also believe that a CCTV system will deter any criminal. For this reason, many retailers sell fake cameras which have been created for this reason. The problem with this is that any burglar with any experience will be able to spot these fake systems from a mile off. The fact that a property is even armed with a fake camera will then send a signal to the burglar that there is something worth protecting at the house. This may then make the criminal even more intrigued, this is obviously the exact opposite of the home owner’s original intention. For this reason, we would suggest avoiding fake cameras at all costs. Although you may think you are saving money by buying a £10 fake camera, these cameras do not provide peace of mind when compared with a professionally installed CCTV system.
DIY Installation Can Be Illegal
Did you know that there are many laws that you need to consider when installing security cameras at your property? For example, there are laws that determine where you are able to record footage. If you were to install a camera that records footage outside of your home then this would actually be illegal. You are also not allowed to set up your camera if it is set up to face a neighbouring window for instance. This is to protect the privacy of others, can you imagine if your neighbour had a camera set up that looked into your bedroom window? This is clearly a breach of your privacy. Professional CCTV installers know this and will, therefore, make sure that they install cameras in a completely legal manner. Although you can read up online to find out where you can and can’t install your camera, it is much easier to safer to call an expert.
Out of Sight, Out of Luck
As well as acting as a huge deterrent for criminals, CCTV systems can also be incredibly effective at providing evidence during a police investigation. For this reason, it is essential that your camera is set up in the best possible location in order to have the best chance of catching the burglar. Many homeowners install a camera at their property, without the knowledge or expertise to realise that any footage recorded will not be of a high enough quality to actually lead to any form of prosecution. For instance, it is very common for a camera to be placed in a spot which does not actually have a clear line of sight to any entry points of your home.
As well as not providing a clear enough line of sight, many DIY installers do not understand the correct settings that need to be set on the camera in order to provide a useable image. On the other hand, someone who installs CCTV for a living will be able to easily set any camera up to provide the best image quality possible. For this reason, sometimes it is even worth having a slightly cheaper camera and paying the extra money to have an expert install it, rather than opting for a more expensive camera, only to install it yourself. Remember, the quality of your camera doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know how to use it.
Insecurity
CCTV systems are specifically made to give you a sense of security. With systems now also able to send a direct feed to your mobile devices, they are also extremely accessible and convenient. One great use of this is when you are on holiday, you can then check up on your property while you are on the other side of the world. However, with this comes various problems if your system is not installed correctly. These features work by utilising your wifi connection. Highly skilled criminals can hack into these connections if they are not set up correctly. This is another reason why having a professional install your home security system is the right choice.
Time is Money
Installing a CCTV system by yourself may seem like a great choice when you compare the price to that of a professional installation but this is simply not the case. Installing your camera isn’t something that can be learnt in no time and although you can learn to do so, this will take a significant amount of time reading instruction manuals as well as reading up on the legality surrounding data protection. As the saying goes, “Time is money”. So if you are spending a lot of time learning how to install your equipment then maybe it is worth saving yourself time and effort as well as any legal issues down the line, by contacting a professional.
High-Quality CCTV Systems
So if you are looking for a high-quality CCTV system and you would like to have it installed by leading professionals in the industry, DCUK has been working with security systems for both domestic and commercial properties for many years and have built up a high level of expertise. Our team will also walk you through every step of the installation, answering any questions that you may have regarding how to use your equipment. Contact us today or call us on 0208 298 1111.