Businesses are 4 times more likely to be burglarized than homes. Not only that, but 64% of small businesses are victims of employee theft.
When you put these 2 statistics together, there are lots of threats your small business faces; ones you can’t really afford to happen.
A great way to deter burglary, theft, and shoplifting is to install business surveillance cameras. In many cases, just the presence of security cameras is enough to deter people from committing crimes.
While it’s inevitable that business surveillance cameras will have some blind spots, there are steps you can take to minimize them. Read on for a complete camera placement guide.
Place Outdoor Cameras on Every Side of Your Building
One of the simplest and best ways to minimize blind spots is to place surveillance cameras on every single side of your property. Not just that, but you should have a few positioned in different angles as well.
By having these cameras in place, you essentially have a 360-degree view on the outside of your property. This can help you identify where burglars are approaching from, and you can make your business safer with this information.
For example, if there’s an alleyway with a broken light and you notice some unsavory characters lingering about there, you can take the appropriate action to get that area well-lit again so it deters people from loitering and casing your business.
Cover All Your Entrances
When installing your security cameras, you need to have at least one pointed at each point of entry; this includes both doors and windows.
Most people think just having cameras on the outside is enough, and this is where they’re wrong. You’ll also need cameras on the inside that cover your entrances. That way, you’ll keep better track of how people are getting in and out, and when as well.
Should you experience a break-in or employee theft, having all these spots covered will build a stronger case for you.
Place Your Cameras out of Reach
One of the first things burglars will try to do is tamper with your cameras. If they’re easily accessible, criminals may try and cut the wires or spray paint them to reduce visibility.
We said earlier that the presence of security cameras is enough to scare off some burglars. So place them high up somewhere where they can still see them should they enter your property.
By doing so, you accomplish a few things. Firstly, you’re making it clear to burglars that you have a working security system, which can motivate them to leave. Secondly, if they’re bold enough to stay, they can’t reach the cameras, which means you’ll still capture everything they do.
Take Lighting Into Account
When placing your business surveillance cameras, you’ll want to take your existing lighting into account. If you place the cameras too close to them, you’ll get glare on your recordings. So be mindful about that when you’re putting them up.
Not only that, but you need to think about natural lighting as well. At the time of installation, you might’ve double-checked your recordings and it may seem fine.
But as the sun changes positions during the day, it may cause some temporary blind spots, especially if you have glass or metal in the rooms that can cause lens flares. You’ll want to make sure your cameras aren’t positioned in direct sunlight.
Take Mother Nature Into Consideration
If you’ve installed your outdoor cameras on a relatively calm day, then the thought of bad weather may not have run across your mind. Not only should you work around natural sunlight, but you should also be aware of the landscape and how it could potentially create blind spots.
For example, that small tree in the corner may rapidly grow and create a blind spot within a year. Or maybe that other tall tree is out of the frame now, but should it become windy, its swaying branches may block out entire sections of your footage.
You also want to take other factors into consideration, such as humidity, dust, and extreme temperatures. There are outdoor cameras made to withstand weathering, so make sure you choose those.
Do not attempt to save some money by installing indoor cameras on the outside. They’ll be more susceptible to the outdoor factors we mentioned above.
Run Mock Break-Ins
What better way to test your security cameras than to fake a break-in?
Put yourself into a burglar’s shoes and come up with ways you’d enter, grab the valuables (or money), and leave. Do a run-through, and see if you’re caught on camera the entire time. This can help you identify any blind spots you’ve missed.
After repositioning the cameras to eliminate those blind spots, do more run-throughs and adjustments to ensure you’re not getting rid of blind spots, only to create more.
You should also enlist the help of trusted friends and family members. They may have more creative minds and can figure out other ways to “break in” that you may not have thought of.
Get the Most out of Your Business Surveillance Cameras
With this camera placement guide, you’ll be able to get the most out of your business surveillance cameras.
However, a good idea is to consult with professional technicians. They’ll have years of experience in installing surveillance systems, which means they can assess your property and fit it in the best way possible.
Don’t have a business surveillance system yet and you’re interested? Then get in touch with us now. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to discuss what’s right for your needs.
