Although installing real outdoor security cameras is the preferred option for added security, they do come with additional costs, maintenance and a time-consuming installation. Therefore, this is where dummy cameras become useful as they look like a real CCTV system (as shown by our dummy camera in the image above) but without the drawbacks. They are also easy to install and only require batteries for features such as integrated lights or sensors.
As with real CCTV systems, fake dummy cameras are also available in a range of shapes and sizes to best suit your requirements. Dome cameras are often the easiest to install but the bullet alternative stands out and acts more as a deterrent to potential criminals.
To assist you in selecting the right dummy security camera for your property, our handpicked selection lists top-performing examples, chosen based on our first-hand experience installing and using several different dummy cameras. Our testing and up-to-date research further ensure the quality of our recommendations.
Our Top Picks At A Glance:
How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates Dummy CCTV Cameras
As we own a number of properties that we want to keep secure, we’ve installed plenty of cameras in multiple vulnerable locations.
However, not all of the cameras are real because not only would it be too expensive but the installation would also be fairly complex too. Plus, the dummy CCTV cameras available these days look so realistic that sometimes we even forget they aren’t real when looking at them!
In terms of the fake CCTV cameras that we’ve installed over the years, we have used a mixture of bullet and dome cameras. A requirement of ours was that the camera had to be as realistic as possible and also include a flashing light to act as a further deterrent.
During our testing, we analyse the dummy camera’s build quality, aesthetics (i.e. does it look real), supplied hardware and ease of installation. To keep up with our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest cameras (for this article), we are continually testing the latest offerings from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice that a brand has released a new and improved model, we will look to upgrade our current cameras for testing.
As well as our experience of testing and using multiple examples, we also based our recommendations on hours of research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the type, construction quality, ease of installation, supplied hardware, size, features, value and how realistic it looks.
