We always want to see the best sides of people, but the truth is we can never really know what’s happening when we’re not looking.
It’s not uncommon for business owners to have merchandise stolen by their employees. But getting a conviction can be hard without any evidence. This is where security cameras can save the day and help protect you from internal and external theft.
Hopefully, you have a team of trustworthy employees, but that’s not always enough. Even if your employees are honest, you may not be safe from theft. While traditional security cameras with visible presences may stop opportunistic theft, if your business has valuable assets, it could easily become the victim of targeted theft. The kind of theft that can circumvent traditional security systems. But with hidden surveillance that goes undetected, any would-be thieves would notice it’s there so that they will be caught in the act.
If you don’t yet have surveillance cameras or spy cameras protecting your business, you’re taking an unnecessary risk.
Fortunately, with the advancements in technology, there are plenty of effective and affordable solutions.
Before rushing out to buy them, here are seven things to consider when choosing hidden cameras for your company’s needs.
- External or Internal Environment
Firstly you need to choose where you will set up the spy camera.
Different cameras are designed for different environments, such as indoor or outdoor use. You’ll need to make sure the camera you choose is right for the environment you want to use it.
Some spy cameras are only designed for climate-controlled indoor environments. If you try to use one outside, it could easily become damaged or destroyed from water ingress, humidity, or heat.
Some cameras are designed to withstand the elements and can cope with direct sunlight and rain. This, of course, will be reflected in the price, so you should expect outdoor cameras with ingress protection ratings to be more costly.
- Lighting Conditions & Night Vision
Most thefts and break-ins don’t happen during office hours. They happen at night when fewer people are around. When looking for camera options, you’ll want to consider the lighting conditions.
Do security or display lights remain on at your business throughout the night? If the answer is no, then your camera may not be able to capture the nefarious activities that take place after dark.
Even during the day, a poorly positioned camera could be subject to glare or direct sunlight, which may impair the video quality.
This is why some spy cameras come with low light settings to work at night or in low-illumination conditions.
Some may use infrared technology to illuminate the surrounding area when in low-light situations. Others may come with night vision settings.
If you’re not sure what to look for, check the minimum Lux rating of the camera. Also, check to see if it uses IR cut and night vision. The lower the Lux rating, the higher the image quality will be in low light
- Storage Capacity
This is a significant consideration that is often overlooked when choosing spy cameras. Most hidden cameras store footage on removable TF or micro SD memory cards. Depending on the type of camera, it might store anywhere between 8GB and 256GB of data. Other models feature built-in memory storage space.
You need to think about how large the video files will be and how many hours of footage you will need to record. Cameras that record continuously will need greater storage space than those which are motion activated and only record for a set time once they detect activity in their field of view.
Think about how you can access the camera to remove the footage. Some cameras may have wireless connectivity, and the data can be copied to a smartphone or wireless computer without needing to access the device physically. Others may require you to remove the camera and plug it into a computer to view the footage.
- Lens Quality & Resolution
A camera isn’t going to be any good if the pictures it produces are blurry.
You will need a camera with at least HD or FHD resolutions and a high-quality lens if you want to capture usable footage.
Some cameras can even record 4K videos, but these need to be considered carefully as the files require a lot of extra storage, and if you can’t access the device regularly to review and remove unwanted footage, this may hamper its effectiveness.
- Where You’ll Hide the Spy Camera
Spy cameras are useless if everyone knows they’re there.
The idea of covert surveillance is for the cameras to be undetected, so they need to blend into the surroundings.
Here are a few options for “hidden” spy cameras that can be placed in plain sight yet go undetected:
- Smoke detectors
- Desktop fans
- Power outlets
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Exit signs
- Toolboxes
- Clocks
- Air fresheners
- USB charging stations
There is huge potential in hiding a camera in such inconspicuous everyday objects. Nobody would even give these items a second glance in an office or workplace, let alone suspect they were hiding a mini camera.
- Mains or Battery Powered
Many spy cameras are fully battery-powered, while others need to be plugged in to operate.
There are a few hybrid models that can work both ways or which have battery backup power. You need to carefully consider which type is best for your needs and for your intended location.
Each type has its pros and cons.
Battery-powered cameras are great because they can be concealed anywhere, but you need to check they have a sufficient charge.
AC-powered cameras have more limits to where you can place them. But it won’t need recharging. So if you’re the forgetful type, AC-powered security cameras may make more sense.
- Other Security Camera Features to Consider
There are many other features that you’ll see on these mini cameras, and this article would go on too long to detail them all.
But in addition to the points already covered you may also want to think about these features too:
- Wireless streaming vs. self-recording cameras
- Color images vs. black-and-white images
- Whether you need live viewing options
- Whether you want to record audio or not
- Whether the camera is motion-activated or not
As you can see, there are many factors to think about when choosing the perfect spy camera for your business.
Fortunately, there are helpful articles like this.
Need Help Choosing Hidden Cameras?
Choosing a spy camera for your workplace or home provides a discreet way to ensure nothing goes awry in your absence.
If you are ready to find the best-hidden cameras for your needs? Visit the hidden camera selection at Gotobuuy to view our best sellers and find a device that’s perfect for your needs.
