How To Hide Outdoor Security Cameras (UK)

Hiding a security camera on your property can be one of the best ways to secure your home, since potential thieves are highly unlike to be able to spot cameras when you know the best places to hide them. Today, we are going to take a look at hidden outdoor security cameras, and how to hide them properly.

Hide Outdoor Security Cameras In Bushes

If your property, like a lot of homes in the UK, has a good amount of foliage, cleverly hiding a wireless outdoor security camera in the bushes would be extremely challenging to spot for just about anyone.

A well placed camera which is camouflaged by foliage is my absolute favourite option personally. It almost acts like a one-way glass when done well – the camera can see exactly what’s going on, but from the outside all you can see is a normal bush, unless the would-be thief happens to have perfect 20/20 vision and won the I-spy world championship.

Think About Wires, and Consider Going Wireless

One easy way criminals use to both spot and disable security cameras is to follow any kind of visible wiring which they can find outside. Having visible wires in unusual places can give away the locations of your cameras, especially when in plain sight.

To avoid this, either make an effort so conceal the wiring as best as you can, or opt to use a wireless outdoor security camera instead. If this is your first time considering going wireless, don’t worry – the better options on the market can easily last several weeks or even months on a single charge, so making the switch to using wireless outdoor security cameras is a much better option than it used to be.

Take The High Ground

Installing security cameras very high up can be a great way to keep them out sight. Generally criminals will look for cameras between ground level and 8-9 feet in the air, as this is the most common height at which homeowners install cameras. Placing them high up in trees or on poles (check with local authorities first) can be very difficult to spot, especially at night.

Buy a Smaller Security Camera

When most people think of security cameras, in their mind they picture the stereotypical large, bulky, long cameras. These days however, cameras can be significantly smaller without sacrificing much in the way of camera quality. By having a smaller camera, you are able to hide them just about anywhere a lot more easily.

Hide Cameras Behind Windows (Inside)

When a security camera is hidden behind a window, it can be very hard to spot from the reflection of the glass. Plus, even if thieves do spot the camera, they can’t do anything to get in and turn it off without actually breaking in.

It also acts as a great psychological warning sign – think about what will go through a trespassers mind when they realise: “If they’ve got hidden cameras that I can spot, how many are there in the house that I can’t see?”

Camouflage the Camera

Camouflaging a camera can be very easy and cheap. There are a number of options to consider when doing this. My favourite method personally is to make a miniature ghillie suit for the camera, by covering it in a dark paint and then adding fake leaves for good measure. If you are planning on painting it, make sure you cover the lens and any other important parts first so that the camera still works. Its worth noting that if you don’t want to risk voiding the warranty, many manufacturers produce camera skins, which can be used to protect and camouflage security cameras too.

The Sneaky Bird Box Camera

Depending on the security camera you have, or are planning to buy, you may be able to buy a fake bird box case for it. This disguises the camera to look just like an ordinary bird box, and is one of the best ways to hide a camera in plain sight in a garden where you don’t have the benefit of bushes and trees for camouflage.

Don’t worry if you can’t find a specific one to fit your device, because most smaller outdoor cameras can fit in a standard bird box with a little bit of DIY and classic bodging.

Hide a Camera in a Pot Plant

If you are a keen gardener with a lot of potted plants dotted around your property, take advantage of this and hide a security camera in the pot. It’s a fairly unusual place for a camera to be, and although a few other writers in the home security community also give this as a recommendation, it’s a niche enough trick that a majority of thieves haven’t caught on.

Mount a Camera to Your Gutter

Guttering is like a camera mount which runs all the way along your house. Difficult to spot and even more difficult to access, placing security cameras high up and mounted to your gutter can be a great spot for concealing a monitoring system. Just make sure it isn’t actually in the gutter, because that’s going to be a recipe for disaster on a rainy day.

Use a Dummy Camera

This might sound strange at first, but hear me out – this strategy can actually work hugely in your favour. Place CCTV signs outside your home, and have a very obviously placed camera which is clearly visible. It doesn’t even need to be real, you could just install an inexpensive fake one such as this if you really want. Then, hide your real camera nearby – a potential thief will be super conscious of the camera they can see, and probably overlook the real one if it’s been hidden well.

Conclusion – Get Creative When Hiding Outdoor Cameras!

Your property is unique, and will have a load of specific attributes which you can take advantage of. From trees and bushes to a shed with a glass window, there are bound to be all kinds of clever spots you can take advantage of all around you.

Protecting your home with any kind of CCTV system is an excellent step to make, and whether they are hidden or not, you will drastically reduce your chances of a break in. The main benefit of monitoring your home and using security cameras is that a majority of potential thieves are looking for easy money, and you have clearly signalled that your house is not one of those places by having surveillance.

Let me know what you have decided to opt for in the comments below – have you concealed yours, or kept them out in the open as a clear signal not to come any closer?