Protecting Your Outdoor Security Camera From Vandalism
The purpose of an outdoor security camera is to monitor an area that is prone to criminal activity or otherwise undesired activity. For this reason the camera itself is put at risk of physical destruction from the very vandals we are protecting ourselves from. There are, however, a few things we can control to minimize the risks.
The first consideration is the camera itself, or the housing that the camera will be in. How the camera is mounted will play a big role as well as the placement of the camera. One of the most reliable ways is to install an intelligent video alarm on the camera itself.
The material of the casing makes a difference since metal provides better vandal protection than a plastic casing. Another big factor is the shape of the housing or the camera. A traditional fixed camera that protrudes from a wall or ceiling is easier to attack than something that is more discrete such as a dome shaped housing or camera.
A housing or camera that is mounted flush with the wall is much safer than something mounted on the surface of a wall or ceiling. When flush in the wall, the only part left sticking out is the transparent covering. It is also important that the cables are protected and that depends on the mounting. Ideally we want to pull the cables through the wall or ceiling directly behind the camera. If that is not possible, use a metal conduit tube to protect cables from attack.
The placement of the camera is a big factor in deterring vandals. If the camera is placed high on a wall or ceiling it will eliminate the on-the-spot vandals. Vandalizing a camera out of normal reach requires some contemplation and that is enough to deter the non-serious vandals. The only trouble might be the effect of desired viewing angles.
Axis' active tampering alarm feature helps protect cameras against vandalism. It can detect if a camera has been redirected, obscured or tampered with, and can send alarms to operators. This is especially useful in installations with hundreds of cameras in demanding environments where keeping track of the proper functioning of all cameras is difficult. It is also useful in situations where no live viewing takes place and operators can be notified when cameras have been tampered with.