How to Hide an Outdoor Security Camera
Keep your cameras out of sight, and out of burglars’ minds.
Keep your cameras out of sight, and out of burglars’ minds.
Should you mount your outdoor cameras in plain sight or hide them? That’s the choice you’ll face when installing your security camera system. Both options come with their own pros and cons. Visible security cameras can deter burglars, yet hiding outdoor cameras can allow you to catch trespassers by surprise or unawares. Here’s how to hide your security cameras in the best possible way with Arlo.
Keeping your outdoor security cameras in plain sight may deter potential criminals from breaking in and stealing your property. However, determined thieves could use knowledge of your camera’s location to their advantage, attempting to evade or — even worse — disable them.
You may also be concerned that cameras in plain sight could disrupt your home’s aesthetic.
On the other hand, hiding your outdoor cameras keeps you safe from these more resourceful criminals — and your home’s appearance intact. By concealing the cameras, you can capture security footage discreetly, avoiding tampering and evasion. The same applies to hiding indoor cameras.
For the best of both worlds, consider mounting one or two cameras in plain sight while concealing the rest. This approach can deter less experienced criminals while catching more determined ones by surprise.
You don’t want to invest hours concealing your cameras, only to later learn they don’t work correctly or have an obstructed view. Remember: It’s not only about hiding them. You also need to place them strategically so the cameras function as effectively as possible.
Keep these key points in mind when searching for the perfect hiding spots:
Follow these six tips to perfectly conceal your outdoor security system, and transform your outdoor cameras into hidden spy cameras.
The first tip is straightforward: Make your outdoor camera not look like an outdoor camera. It’s the same principle applied to nanny cams, only outdoors. Just like hiding a spare key, disguise your camera by placing it inside everyday outdoor items like fake rocks, birdhouses, mailboxes, and potted plants. Remember Peppy, your garden gnome? He could work, too.
For this, you don’t strictly have to choose a mini camera with low resolution;. Options like the Arlo Essential Outdoor Wireless Security Camera are small enough to be easily disguised as well while providing clear video footage
You can find fake rocks and other disguises online, or you can choose the DIY approach and make your own. Just ensure that the disguise isn’t too obvious.
You can take a PVC pipe, paint it the color you prefer, and create a hole for the camera lens. Place the camera inside the pipe and secure it to the ground. The height of the pipe is up to you. You can make it short to resemble a sprinkler or taller to blend in with water drains, trees, and branches.
The advantage of choosing this method is that your cameras remain easily accessible. You can take them down and recharge them whenever needed. However, with long-lasting battery cameras that won’t be necessary very often.Options like the Arlo Essential XL Wireless Security Camera offer four times more battery life. This model also comes with an Arlo Secure Plan free trial, giving you additional benefits like 30-day cloud storage for your video recordings.
There’s something to be said about those, ahem, curious neighbors who spend their days peeking out of their windows. They seem to notice everything, and it’s really hard to spot them.
You can apply a similar approach when hiding an outdoor camera. Place it inside your home, facing outward through a window, capturing the view outside your house. This way, you’ll have a perfect perspective, and absolutely nobody will be able to tamper with it.
The only drawback to this is that it might cause problems with motion detection. In some cases, the glass could cause interference with the camera’s motion sensors. To make sure this is not your case, try out this method before fixing your camera to a window.
Your yard is brimming with plants, trees, and bushes. Why not use them to conceal your outdoor security cameras? Place the cameras at the junctions of branches, use leaves for camouflage, or tuck them discreetly at the tops of bushes.Want to take this approach a step further? Consider a Mossy Oak Housing to help the camera blend seamlessly with its surroundings. And while you’re at it, add a Solar Panel Charger to the mix. At this point, your camera only needs to grow some roots to be considered half-plant.
Most Arlo Security Cameras are available in either black and/or white. Keep this in mind when choosing yours. Depending on your house’s appearance, picking the right color can help the camera blend in more effectively.
For instance, a white camera may camouflage better with gutters, drains, fences, and garden decorations. A black camera could blend better with rocks, leaves, and roof tiles.
When choosing the camera color, it’s not only up to personal preference. The right color can be a critical factor to effectively concealing a camera.
Criminals might be cautious of traditional security cameras, but they tend to be less wary of video doorbells. Modern video doorbell cameras are able to capture High Resolution video, while being small and inconspicuous. Options like the Arlo Video Doorbells boast a wide 180° field of view, 2K or HD video capture, and motion detection.
With the right wall color, they may even go unnoticed. You could even follow our earlier tip and hide your video doorbell inside a mailbox for bonus spy-points.
Whether hidden or not, an outdoor security camera like the Arlo Essential Outdoor Wireless Camera is always a good idea. No matter what your budget is or the size of your property, you deserve the best security. That’s why we designed the Essential—a camera that helps every home become safer with a 130° Field of View, Integrated Spotlight, Color Night Vision, and more.
What are you waiting for? Keep a close eye on your home inside & out with Arlo today.
