Most home security cameras are a good way to deter burglars, but using a built-in alarm is game-changing
The best home security cameras are a great way to check that your property is safe and secure when you’re not around. They connect to your home Wi-Fi network and through a smartphone app let you see, and with the help of a microphone and speaker, speak to anyone in the camera’s field of view. Many of us believe that the presence of smart security devices alone can be enough to discourage a would-be intruder — in fact, a former burglar confirmed that home security cameras do indeed deter crime. But, just the sight of a security camera isn’t always enough to dissuade someone from approaching your property. A handful of home security cameras on the market have a built-in alarm that will trigger automatically when motion is detected. This is another way to deter would be intruders, but as far as we’re concerned its a feature that every home security camera should offer. Chances are you’ve not bothered to check if your home security camera has a built-in alarm, and if it does, you probably haven’t even set it up to sound, but when it comes to deterring unwanted intruders, it could be your best weapon. Read on to find out just why we think a built-in alarm is needed on more home security cameras, or if we’ve already convinced you that a home security camera is your next home purchase, check out these great deals. I come from a fairly security-conscious family — for as long as I can remember my dad used old-fashioned timer plugs to make lights in the house switch on and off and set times when we were away on holiday to simulate occupancy and hopefully deter burglars. A traditional CCTV system was always slightly out of his financial reach when I was a child, so when home security cameras started to appear on the market years later, it’s no surprise he was an early adopter of the technology that was more affordable and didn’t require wires running all over the house. He has a Reolink Argus installed on an exterior wall at the front of the house, so its field of view covers the front door. He settled on this model because of the microSD card so he didn’t have to rely on a subscription service if he wanted to review footage captured at a later date. He was so pleased with the camera that, when Reolink bought out the Argus 2 a few months later, he also invested in this for the rear garden — particularly as it has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rather than relying on alkaline batteries. Both cameras have a built-in alarm that can be triggered automatically when motion is detected. Initially, Dad didn’t use this feature at all, however, when some foxes began digging up flowers in the pots next to the front door, he decided to switch it on in a bid to deter them.
