Short answer: Partly. In the well-known study by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, about half of 422 burglars said they looked for outdoor cameras when choosing a home. People nearby and dogs were the strongest deterrents; with an alarm, about 60% would choose another house. So a camera works best together with an alarm and lighting.
Our solution
Camera and alarm working together
Combine a ShieldLink® alarm with siren with a camera or video doorbell. The alarm system works without a subscription; the Neroo® Cam and the BellMate video doorbell work in the same app.
View the options
What does research among burglars say?
The study cited most often is Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender's Perspective by Kristie Blevins, Joseph Kuhns and Seungmug Lee (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, December 2012). They surveyed 422 incarcerated burglars in the US states of North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio about how they chose a target.
- Cameras: about half (50.3%) said they took outdoor cameras and other surveillance equipment into account when choosing a home or premises.
- Alarm: about 83% said they first checked whether there was an alarm. About 60% said they would look for another target if there was an alarm.
- Alarm during the burglary: if they only discovered during the attempt that there was an alarm, about half said they would stop and 31% said they would sometimes stop.
- People: according to the researchers, the strongest deterrents were people in or near the property, police nearby, neighbours, passers-by and dogs. Alarms and outdoor cameras also often deterred them.
In short: a camera counts, but mainly as a sign that someone can see what is happening. A burglar who thinks he will be seen or heard is more likely to move on to another house.
Caveats about the study
Be careful about drawing firm conclusions. The study concerns American burglars, their own answers and only burglars who were caught. It was funded by the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation, a foundation from the security industry. We have not found any large-scale Dutch research into the effect of a camera on a home. The findings do, however, match what Dutch authorities advise.
What do Dutch sources say?
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government): the brochure Voorkom woninginbraken from the campaign Maak het ze niet te makkelijk states that burglars check whether nobody is home, and that a camera or a dog also deters them.
- Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (the Dutch police's secure housing label): burglars usually don't want to spend too long and often skip homes with good security measures.
- Politie (Dutch police): footage from your own home's camera may be used as evidence. Through Camera in Beeld, a Dutch police scheme, you can register your camera voluntarily. The police then know which cameras are in a street and can request footage specifically after a crime.
Why a camera alone is not enough
A camera records what happens, but it doesn't stop anyone. Someone wearing a hood and a cap is hard to recognise on camera, and footage you only watch the next day mainly helps afterwards. A camera gives you three things:
- Deterrence: a visible camera shows that someone is paying attention.
- Watching live: when you get a notification, you watch live and see whether something is really going on.
- Evidence: footage can help the police and your insurer.
What a camera doesn't do is make noise and alert the neighbourhood. A siren does that. The study also shows that an alarm is reason for many burglars to choose another house. The strongest combination is therefore a camera for the image, an alarm with siren for attention and lighting that switches on with motion. You can read more about that setup in how to secure your home in four layers.
Camera, alarm and lighting: what does what?
| Measure | What it does | What it doesn't do |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor camera | Shows that someone is paying attention, sends a notification, records footage | Makes no noise, doesn't stop anyone |
| Alarm with siren | Reports doors and windows opening or motion inside, makes noise, alerts you | Doesn't show who it was |
| Motion-activated lighting | Brings someone out of the dark, makes them visible to neighbours | Doesn't alert you when you're away |
| Video doorbell | Shows who is ringing or standing at the door, even when you're not home | Only covers the front door |
How to mount a camera that deters
- Visible: a camera you can't see doesn't deter either. Mount it where anyone walking onto your property will notice it.
- Out of reach: high enough that it can't easily be turned or pulled off.
- Covering the entrances: aim it at the front door, the back door, the driveway or the gate to the back garden.
- With lighting: in the dark, lighting that switches on with motion helps, both as a deterrent and for the image.
- With notifications: turn notifications on so you can watch live straight away, not just afterwards.
High, visible and aimed at your own driveway: this is how a camera shows that someone is paying attention, without filming the street or the neighbours.
Neroo's range includes several cameras for this approach:
- Havic SolarCam: wireless 2K outdoor camera with solar panel, motion detection with human recognition, night vision and two-way audio. When there is motion, you get a notification and watch live.
- Wally: a solar-powered security light with camera. When there is motion, the light switches on and the camera records to the memory card. Via Wi-Fi you watch live and get notifications.
- Neroo® Cam: a rotating 2K indoor camera that works in the same app as the Neroo alarm systems. Handy for seeing what is going on when the alarm sends a notification.
- BellMate Ultra: a video doorbell with a notification on motion or ringing, which can be linked to the ShieldLink® alarm systems and operated in the same app.
The siren of the ShieldLink® system provides the sound when the alarm goes off. Outdoors, the ShieldDefender combines a motion detector with a siren and lighting; it can be linked wirelessly to ShieldLink®.
What are you allowed to film?
In the Netherlands, a camera on your home is allowed as long as it is aimed at your own house, garden or shed. According to the Dutch police, you may not film the public road or the neighbours' property. If your camera does film (part of) the pavement, the street or the neighbours' plot, the rules of the GDPR (AVG in Dutch) apply. You can find more information from the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, the Dutch data protection authority. So set the viewing angle so that only your own property is in view.
So do burglars avoid homes with cameras?
Some burglars do, but a camera deters most when it is mounted visibly and works together with an alarm, a siren and motion-activated lighting.
Our solution
Camera and alarm working together
Combine a ShieldLink® alarm with siren with a camera or video doorbell. The alarm system works without a subscription; the Neroo® Cam and the BellMate video doorbell work in the same app.
View the options
Frequently asked questions
What deters more: a camera or an alarm?
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte study does not compare them one to one. About 60% of the burglars surveyed said they would look for another target if there was an alarm; about half said they took outdoor cameras into account. They work best together: the camera provides the image, the alarm makes the noise.
Which homes do burglars often pass over?
Homes where someone appears to be home, where neighbours or passers-by can see and where they can't get in quickly. An alarm, a dog and a visible camera also play a role.
Can I film the street with my camera?
No. According to the Dutch police, your camera must be aimed at your own house, garden or shed. If it does film the public road or the neighbours' property, the rules of the GDPR (AVG) apply.
Where is the best place to mount an outdoor camera?
Visible and out of reach, aimed at the entrances to your own property: front door, back door, driveway or garden gate. Lighting that switches on with motion makes the camera more effective in the dark.
What use is camera footage after a burglary?
The Dutch police may use footage from your own camera as evidence. Through Camera in Beeld you can register your camera with the Dutch police, so that after a crime in your street they can request footage specifically.
Sources and references
- Blevins, Kuhns and Lee (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender's Perspective (December 2012) — accessed September 2026
- UNC Charlotte, Through the eyes of a burglar – study provides insights on habits and motivations (May 2013) — accessed September 2026
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government), campaign Maak het ze niet te makkelijk, Voorkom woninginbraken (brochure, December 2023) — accessed September 2026
- Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen, Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (homepage) — accessed September 2026
- Politie (Dutch police), Mag ik thuis een videocamera installeren als preventiemiddel tegen inbraak? — accessed September 2026
- Politie (Dutch police), Camera in Beeld - veelgestelde vragen — accessed September 2026
