The effectiveness of a CCTV system isn’t just about the quality of your cameras, it’s about where you put them. Poorly positioned cameras can leave blind spots, capture poor-quality footage, or even make your property less secure by advertising weaknesses.
Here’s a guide to the best places to install CCTV cameras for maximum security, whether you’re protecting a home or a business.
Main Entrances and Front Doors
Your front door is the most common entry point for burglars, so placing a camera here is essential. Ideally, mount it at around eight to ten feet high so it can capture faces clearly without being easy to tamper with. A wide-angle lens works best to cover both the doorway and the immediate approach. This position is also useful for monitoring deliveries, visitors, and anyone loitering near your home or business.
Rear and Side Doors
These are often more attractive to intruders because they’re less visible from the street. Installing cameras here ensures you’re covering every potential entry point. It’s worth using night vision or ensuring there’s good lighting, and positioning the camera so it captures not just the door itself but the route leading up to it.
Driveways and Car Parks
If you have a driveway or car park, placing cameras to monitor these areas is vital. They can record vehicles and people approaching before they even reach your doors. For businesses, this is especially important for capturing number plates and tracking visitors or deliveries. Cameras should be angled to cover entry and exit points clearly without glare from headlights obscuring the image.
Large Windows and Ground-Floor Access Points
Ground-level windows can be tempting targets for intruders. A discreetly placed camera covering these areas can be a strong deterrent. Make sure it’s mounted where the view isn’t blocked by blinds, shutters, or furniture, and consider a compact model that blends into the building’s exterior.
Blind Spots Around the Property
Every property has corners or areas that aren’t visible from the main entrances. Walk the perimeter to find these blind spots and position cameras accordingly. Motion detection models work particularly well here, alerting you to movement in areas that don’t normally see much activity.
Internal High-Risk Areas
While most people focus on the outside, internal CCTV can also play an important role. Cameras inside garages, hallways leading to valuables, or shop till areas can provide critical evidence if something happens. These should be placed discreetly but at angles that capture faces and activity clearly.
The right CCTV camera placement can transform a good security system into an excellent one. Cover all entry points, vulnerable spots, and hidden areas, and make sure your cameras are positioned high enough to avoid tampering but low enough to capture useful detail. With the right planning, you can create a system that works seamlessly to protect your property.
For expert advice and professional installation, A&M UK Security can design a CCTV layout tailored to your property, ensuring maximum coverage and peace of mind.
