Our last article on strange and unusual home security devices was a big hit.
Like our last collection of weird home security devices, everything on this list can be used to defend your home… results, however, will definitely vary.
Without further ado, here’s yet another list of crazy, weird, and just plain strange home security devices. Just keep in mind that we at The Security Blanket don’t endorse any of these products. Well, maybe the laser fence…
Dummy Cameras
Pro Tip: This property isn't actually monitored by video surveillance.
A dummy camera isn’t so much a camera as it is a prop that looks like a camera. The idea is to give burglars the impression that you have a camera without taking on the expense. Many shady online retailers tout the merits of dummy cameras as effective deterrents but the debate rages between security experts. Here’s one supporting the use of dummy cameras. Here’s another that’s against them.
Dummy cameras might have some use for individuals and businesses with significant security expenses. Many retail businesses, for example, use dummy cameras along side real cameras to give the appearance of extra surveillance. Some statistics claim retail theft dropped 80 percent with the advent of dummy cameras…
However, the needs of home owners and businesses are completely different. All in all, dummy cameras are usually the wrong choice for home security. Even advocates of fake security cameras recognize the need for a convincing prop. Some dummy cameras include LED lights, cable input/outputs, and even timed movements. The problem? These “convincing” fake cameras often cost as much or more than real, quality security cameras. This rotating imitation security camera costs a whopping $89. If a fake one costs that much, a real camera must cost a fortune, right? This security camera comes quipped with infrared and night vision capabilities and can be yours for an amazing $19. The people selling dummy cameras certainly aren’t dummies but their customers just might be.
CD Diversion Safe
Diversion safes are a fairly common security measure that cleverly hide small valuables, like cash or jewelry. Usually disguised as everyday household objects, diversion safes can look like anything from books to food to electronics. If that last suggestion makes you wonder, it should. The object of diversion safes is draw burglars’ attention away from your valuables. Hiding your jewels, money, or personal documents in something valuable that’s likely to be stolen during a robbery doesn’t exactly sound like the greatest plan.
You know the person that created this thought they were clever...
With this in mind, we give you the CD Diversion Safe. Don’t see a problem with hiding your valuables in a fake stack of CDs? Good, then you don’t think like a crook. The fact of the matter is that most burglars are small time and don’t necessarily look for the most valuable things in your house. They’re on the hunt for items that can quickly and easily be exchanged for cash with little hassle. You know what that means? CDs. Pawn stores buy them for less than a $1 a piece than resell them for a $2 or $3 dollars. That collection you spent the better part of the last 20 years putting together? 300 CDs can yield anywhere from $150 to $250 for a criminal. And since these items aren’t considered “valuable” they don’t require a receipt and they don’t have easily traceable serial numbers.
Using a CD diversion safe is an overall bad idea. Most burglars aren’t looking for safes. They want a quick and easy score. A CD diversion safe is risky because a burglar might “accidentally” take your most important possessions while only meaning to take items of marginal value. Of course, you could always disguise your CD diversion safe as the work of an artist or band that no one would take… Top suggestions from around the office include Dashboard Confessional, Yanni, and Nickleback.
Super Door Stop
Just simple and elegant enough to be completely ineffective.
Harnessing all the power of… a wedge, the Super Door Stop is part defensive measure and part alarm. While the Super Door Stop gets points for being an almost credible security device, it ultimately falls short. To see why, check out the video below:
Catch that? No? Yeah, I was almost fooled too. Like I said, the Super Door Stop earns points for almost working but, if you look closely, it’s easy to see the device’s massive security flaw. The error is in the way the Super Door Stop is designed to operate. Just like the video demonstrates, the Super Door Stop is placed under a door and armed. When the door is opened, the Super Door Stop prevents it from opening any further and sounds a 120-dB alarm. The alarm is deactivated when pressure is removed from the Super Door Stop… and that’s the problem. In general, you don’t want to rely on a security device that your burglar can easily turn off.
Why is the Super Door Stop so easy to deactivate? Probably because it’s super easy to activate in the first place. In smaller dwellings, like apartments and trailers, The Super Door Stop blocks the primary entrance, increasing the likelihood of false alarms. Though you only risk annoying your neighbors with this device, it’s probably best to save your money for something more effective.
Laser Fence
This is what most people imagine when they get a laser fence... the reality is a bit different.
A basic requirement of any supervillain from the past 50 years, laser fences use beams of light to create perimeter protection for large areas. Laser fence models that you can install at home are capable of protecting up to an acre of land. Home owners will need tools and the ability to use them. Depending on how much work you want to do, a self-installed laser fence can be added to your home for only $150. For a quick laser fence demonstration, check out the video below:
Particularly clever users can wire their laser fence to other security devices, like The Mosquito or flood lights. Again, a laser fence might seem cool and effective but nothing could be further from the truth. It turns out that laser beams can’t really distinguish between a trespasser or an animal. Most laser fences are “trip wire” versions that use a single beam at a fixed height. Criminals looking to gain access to a property can simply step over the beam with little problem. There are solutions to make a laser fence work, such as multiple beams and sensitive electronics that gauge size, but the end result would be an expensive system that isn’t as effective as other alternatives.
Spy Cameras
Every year, people buy billions of dollars worth of spy cameras for one reason… they’re awesome. Spy cameras are quintessential tech and a must for every gadget junkie. As neat toys or investigative tools, spy cameras aren’t the worst investments. When it comes to home security, however, experts say you’re better off getting a camera that’s visible and serves as a deterrent to potential burglars. A spy camera is the way to go if you’re trying to observe someone without their knowledge, like a cheating spouse or an employee that’s stealing.
This is what dogs do when they think you're not looking.
While spy cameras can be effective under certain circumstances, at times, they can be a down right stupid choice. Case in point, the DVD spy camera. As noted earlier, it’s probably not best to hide things of value inside things of value. Criminals take electronics and hiding a spy camera inside a DVD player is a pretty surefire way to lose a camera during a burglary.
Filed under: Home Security Reviews, diversion safe review, dummy camera review, great home security products, home security devices, home security products, laser fence review, security devices that dont work, spy camera review, super door stop review, unusual home security, weird home security, weird security devices
The Security Blanket 