Portuguese Prepper
Home Deterrents: Do fake signs & cameras actually work?
Security is 90% psychology. A burglar does not want a challenge; they want an easy score.
Your goal is to make your home look like a “Hard Target” from the street. You can achieve this with expensive systems, or you can achieve it with $20 worth of psychological warfare.
The most effective deterrents play on the burglar’s two biggest fears: Getting Caught (Alarms/Cameras) and Getting Bit (Dogs).
Occupancy: The best deterrent is making them think you are home.
Unpredictability: Dogs are scary because they are chaotic.
Realism: Fake cameras usually look fake. Avoid them.
The “Fake TV” Simulator
Most burglaries happen when the house is empty. Leaving a lamp on a timer is okay, but it looks static.
The Upgrade: A Fake TV Simulator is a small LED box that flickers with random colors and intensity. From the outside, it looks exactly like someone is watching a 42-inch TV in the living room.
Why it works: No burglar enters a house if they think someone is awake watching Netflix.
The “Beware of Dog” Sign
Interviews with convicted burglars reveal that large dogs are a major deterrent. An alarm system can be bypassed, but a German Shepherd is a 90lb biting machine that cannot be hacked.
The Hack: Even if you own a Chihuahua (or no dog at all), put a “Beware of Dog” sign on your back gate. It introduces doubt. Doubt makes them leave.
Why Fake Cameras Fail
Do not buy those $10 fake dome cameras with the blinking red LED. Real security cameras do not have blinking red lights. Professional burglars know this. A fake camera tells them: “I have something to hide, but I am too cheap to buy real security.”
Better: Buy a real (broken) camera housing from eBay, or just use high-quality stickers.
Which deterrents work?
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