Do security cameras actually deter burglars?

Visible cameras are one of the top deterrents in surveys of convicted burglars, alongside barking dogs, alarm signage, and visible activity. The camera doesn't have to be expensive; it has to be visible. Position one at the front door and one covering the side or back entry.

Will DIY security lower my homeowners insurance?

Sometimes. Most carriers give 2–5% for smoke and burglar alarms, and 5–15% for professionally monitored systems. Some now accept self-monitored smart systems with cameras and sensors. Ask your agent what documentation they need; a few carriers just want a photo of the installed devices.

What about a monitored system with no contract?

Several DIY systems offer optional professional monitoring month-to-month for $10–$25 with no long-term commitment. That's a reasonable middle ground if you want someone to call the police when you're out of cell range, without locking into 36 months.

Is a fake camera or alarm sign enough?

Signs and dummy cameras help a little but experienced burglars can spot them. Real cameras have gotten cheap enough — $30–$60 each — that there's no reason to fake it.

Cheap Ways to Secure Your Home Without a Monthly Contract

The traditional alarm company pitch is a “free” system in exchange for a 36-month contract at $40–$60 a month. That’s $1,400–$2,200 over the contract for equipment you could buy outright for a few hundred dollars, and most of what it does is call you when a sensor trips — which your phone can do for free.

Here’s what the research on burglary actually says deters break-ins, and how to cover it with a one-time spend.

What burglars say works

Studies that interviewed convicted burglars (the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s 2012 study is the most cited) consistently rank these as reasons to skip a house:

Signs of occupancy — a car in the driveway, lights and noise inside, someone visibly home
Dogs, especially big or loud ones
Visible cameras
Alarm signs and window decals
Good exterior lighting with no dark approach to a door or window
Nosy neighbors and a house that’s clearly watched

Most break-ins happen during the day (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) when houses are empty, through the front door, back door, or a first-floor window, and the average burglar spends less than 10 minutes inside. The goal isn’t to make your house impregnable. It’s to make it a worse target than the one down the street.

Tier 1: Under $100 — do these first

Reinforce the door strike plates ($15). Most doors are kicked in, and most fail at the frame, not the lock. Replace the two 3/4-inch screws in each strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud, and do the same on the hinges. This single $15 change makes a kick-in dramatically harder.

Motion-activated exterior lights ($25–$60). One at each entry, aimed at the approach. Solar models need no wiring. Hardwired LED floods are brighter and replace an existing fixture in 20 minutes.

Window locks and dowels ($10). A cut dowel or a $5 window stop in the track of each ground-floor sliding window and patio door prevents it from being forced open. Pin locks work for double-hung windows.

Alarm signage ($10–$15). Yard sign and window decals. Generic “monitored by” signs work; you don’t need a brand.

Timers on two lamps ($15). Programmed to turn on at dusk and off at bedtime. Better: smart plugs ($10 each) with a “vacation” randomization.

Tier 2: $100–$250 — cameras and a smart lock

Two cameras ($60–$120). One at the front door (a video doorbell or a wired camera above it), one covering the most likely secondary entry — typically the back door or the side of the house without windows. Priorities:

Local storage (microSD or a hub) so you’re not forced into a cloud subscription. Many brands offer free cloud clips for a limited window plus local recording.
Wired power where practical; battery cameras miss events while waking up.
Placement at 8–10 feet, angled down, out of easy reach. A camera at eye level gets stolen or spray-painted.

A smart deadbolt ($90–$150). The real value isn’t the app — it’s never leaving a key under the mat, auto-locking after 5 minutes, and knowing the door is locked while you’re on vacation. Choose one with a physical key backup and check it fits your door’s bore holes (most do).

Tier 3: $50–$150 — sensors and a self-monitored hub

A DIY alarm kit (base station, keypad, 3–5 door/window sensors, a motion sensor) runs $150–$250. It sounds a siren, sends alerts to your phone, and lets you add month-to-month professional monitoring later if you want it. If you skip the kit, a few standalone door sensors that chime and notify your phone ($15–$25 each) cover the essentials.

Add a water leak sensor ($15–$30) under the water heater and washing machine while you’re at it. Water damage is more common and more expensive than burglary, and some insurers discount for it.

The free stuff that matters most

Trim shrubs below window height and tree limbs away from second-story windows
Keep ladders, tools, and anything usable for entry locked up
Don't announce trips on social media until you're back
Stop mail and packages, or have a neighbor collect them
Leave a car in the driveway when traveling
Meet the neighbors on both sides and exchange numbers
Close the garage door every time — an open garage is an invitation and a window into everything you own
Don't leave the garage remote in a car parked outside
Lock the door from the garage into the house

Don’t forget the insurance angle

Once you’ve installed cameras, sensors, and smoke/CO detectors, call your insurance agent. Many carriers now discount 2–10% for self-monitored smart security and leak sensors, and you may be able to document it with photos. See 9 ways to lower your homeowners insurance.

When a monitored contract makes sense

Be honest about two things. If you’re frequently out of cell coverage, or you want someone to dispatch police when you can’t, month-to-month monitoring at $10–$25 through a DIY kit gets you that without a 3-year lock-in. And if you have a high-value home or specific risk factors, a professionally designed system may be justified. For most houses on most streets, though, lighting, reinforced doors, a couple of visible cameras, and good habits do the job for the price of a few months of the contract you didn’t sign.