It depends on where do you live.

If you live in an apartment on level 0 or the last floor OR if you live in a private house - I would install cams and bars on the windows.

If you live in an apartment on the middle levels - Don't install anything because the chances that anyone would want to break into your home is almost 0.

Sasha - www.NestingJourney.com

Nope. An advantage to rural living.

No, and I think it's a sad commentary on the state of society that so many people do feel the need to have them. What could be a more unwelcoming thing to see when approaching someone's font door. Completely changes my perception of the people who live inside.

Nope but I know atleast 3 houses on my street have cameras and my sister just got some for Christmas

We have them, but really don't need them. But who knows what can happen, Our last suburban house we did. Someone attempted twice to break into our last house. Now we are rural and all my husband does is see if there was deer in the yard during the night. The cameras gives my husband a sense of security though.

Not yet but after all the Christmas porch thefts I plan to install them.

Tooky58 & Function - We have higher incidences of home break-ins in our rural areas. Theory revolves around the lack of neighbors to keep watch.

We also have a high incidence of property crime in our rural area. Lots of valuable tools and equipment (and livestock: cattle, goats, and sheep are regularly snatched), darker roads, and yes, less neighbours to keep watch.

Our large Rottweiler is more effective as a deterrent than a camera however. The cameras can't be seen until you're too close to care, signs are too easily ignored even assuming the criminals can read, and if they were to get caught on tape they wouldn't be prosecuted anyway.

Unfortunately crime is everywhere due to drugs. Cameras is a deterrent to a professional thief, but junkies usually aren't so smart. They just need a fix and don't care. My DD has a rott and he is scary as heck to strangers , but really is big sissy.

Where I live and how my house is designed, they are not really necessary. We do have an alarm system and that's all we really need.

No cameras and usually we only lock our doors at night. Country life.

We have a security system and a motion detector light in the back yard, plus our neighborhood is gated, so no cameras. But I can see why people would want them these days.

Sort of. We have a camera at the front door and one inside pointed st the dog’s crate. The front door one is for seeing who is there from other floors, mostly. (I have arthritis and I don’t want to run up and down for nothing important, our house is 3 floors so it can be quite a hike.) The one on the crate is because I had a previous dog injure himself on a crate, so being able to check in when we are out makes me feel better.

You better believe I did when I lived in New Orleans. Also an iron fence with gate all the way around the property. Everyone did. I Live semi rural now and don't have them but people still get broken into by meth heads looking for cash and prescription pills. It's a nice neighborhood but 2 nights ago my neighbor caught a prowler out on her porch. We have good locks.

it's not always where you live but the one who wander though

We don't have cameras but I have considered in light of several break-ins. The only reason we don't have them I guess is lack of moving on the idea. In our neighborhood the cameras are most prevalent in homes where the owners work long hours, are senior citizens, or have children in the home. It doesn't matter why people have them, it is their home or safe place. What is scary to one person may not scare another. I don't feel unwelcome when I visit homes with cameras, but I know not to pick the flowers ;)

We have cameras and alarm system. To me, it's like having deadbolts. Sure, you can use the handle lock, and it'll probably be fine, but if deadbolts are more secure, why not have them?

The one thing I really like them for, is to let me know when someone is at the front door, or has pulled into the driveway. Half the time I have a package delivered, and they don't bother to ring the doorbell, but the camera, motion sensor sends me an alert. That, alone, is worth it.

No, but I’d like one, to see the wildlife at night. We liv in SW FL, and we hear animals all the time. I’d love to see them too!

I have a trail camera and catch "them" in the act...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WOR_hw-hAs&t=10s

yes,for security reasons people should use security camera.

there are now simple $20 cameras that can be set up and seen from a phone app. You can record or not record, turn volume on or off. It is absolutely the greatest thing ever.

Nope... that’s what the doberman is for

We have a camera but facing the back to see the bears, deer, coyotes, fishers & bobcats.

If using a home camera system make sure to set it up securely, to avoid it spying on you by hackers.

Suggest using long passwords that are not easy to figure out. Do not use general info like pet's name, address, family names,etc. Schedule a change of passwords every so often, so the hacker will have a difficult time trying to spy on you.

Video on home security cameras that were being streamed to public without their knowledge. Spooky stuff. Be smarter about security. Set up ot correctly. Stay safe. https://youtu.be/-P0rSnt2HSU

Guys, poll is a couple years old already.

True acm, the poll is over, but the thread came back to life by others.

There's been a lot of recent home security camera hacks consumers should know.

Video on home security cameras that were being streamed to public without their knowledge. Spooky stuff. Be smarter about security. Set up ot correctly. Stay safe. https://youtu.be/-P0rSnt2HSU

Never had a problem on Relic Farm in Kansas. Folks were afraid of our Texas Lacy Game Dogs. Here in New Mexico, we have good neighbors. We also have a guard donkey who alerts

Living in LA (Hollywood Hills) means bars (if you want to have any open windows), locked gates, interior motion monitoring of entry area and burglar alarm including all doors and sliders and each non-barred window. And there is a roving armed community patrol car in our neighborhood . With all that security for the majority of the homes, there are still burglaries and thefts of cars and car break-ins.
Big city living means being proactive.

I've been using a whole security system for my house for a very long time, as I'm a bit paranoid. My neighbors had things stolen from their house a couple of years ago. Since then, I began to worry very much about the security of my home and decided to try new technologies to combat such problems. I read a lot of articles about various smart security systems, such as ajax, and decided to purchase such a system for myself. Therefore, I have security cameras installed in the house and outside the house. I feel safe like this.

Since the new year, I bought some cameras for my home. They have been so far one of the best purchases I ever made. The cameras helped me catch so many people that were trying to steal my deliveries. I searched for a long time but after two hours of searching, I came across this site: https://paydaydeals.com.au/collections/cctv-security-cameras-systems. I really recommend them because they help you and your family become safer. Now my wife is pregnant with our first daughter and we need to be sure that no one enters the house without permission

My husband is a regional security manager for a large global software company. He is an expert in security. We do not have security cameras in or outside or home. This is due to the paranoia and anxiety that comes from having cameras. What people perceive is safety is manifested anxiety and over reliance on technology versus the basics of securing one's home and neighborhood. 

Other affects of security cameras: 

- Of 44% who have cameras, 40% admit to spying. 

1 in 5 have eavesdropped on neighbors

- 1/3 admit to eavesdrouin general

- 1 in 5 spied/watched a neighbor

A Safewise survey 2021

We know the world isn't safe but our mental health is more important than cameras. Worse is when neighbors use it to profile, vigilante or tattle on others.

Jen K, wow apparently some people don't have a life. New technology for the neighborhood busybodies.

Ours have quit working and we could care less. All we can see is deer anyway. The houses are to far apart to see the neighbors or street and I could care less what they are doing. The motion lights are turned off too due to the critters.