The Dangers of Relying on Dummy Security Camera

A local small business, a boutique for high-end women’s clothing, recently had an incident of theft.

An employee’s purse was in the back room, and she discovered on a break that her credit cards were missing. When she called her credit card company, she discovered that her cards were being used at a nearby Wal-Mart and the thieves charged over $4,000.

The owner suspected that inventory might be missing as well, but there was no way to quickly check, or even to see who the thief was. Although the boutique has cameras, they’re dummy cameras. They weren’t filming.

Should you use dummy cameras?

The short answer is no.

The longer answer is that dummy cameras (cameras that aren’t connected, and therefore, not filming) can’t do anything meaningful for your security. Their purpose is to be there for show, to hopefully deter thieves who think they’re being filmed. The problem is that cameras don’t deter thieves.

The sight of a camera isn’t enough to scare off a criminal

Cameras are everywhere these days. So is shoplifting.

Shoplifting increased by 93% in 2023, the latest year for which research is available. Research from the National Retail Federation (NRF) shows that the nature of the crime is also changing; groups of shoplifters are working together, and they’re more violent than they were in previous years.

Cameras, functioning or not, haven’t kept these thieves from stealing.

Dummy cameras may increase your legal risk

A bigger issue with dummy cameras is that they may increase your liability. This is especially true if you’ve posted signs pointing out your cameras.

If a crime, like an assault, happens in your establishment, the victim may have rightly expected that the assault was recorded. If your camera is a dummy, that victim may turn their ire (and litigation) on you.

The most unfortunate thing about dummy cameras is that working cameras aren’t much more expensive — and they’re effective. Security cameras are one of the cheapest security measures you can take to protect your assets. They make a real difference in securing your establishment and catching perpetrators if an event should happen.

Where should cameras be placed?

You don’t need that many cameras if you’re a small business. You do, however, need cameras in a few key locations:

• The entrances and exits: You want to see who is entering and leaving your establishment. You also want to have a line or some other indicator of height at those locations. It could be a line on the wall at six feet, for example. That will allow you to give the police a more accurate description of a perpetrator if you’re ever robbed.

• Your cash register: You want eyes on your register, both in case of a robbery and to keep an eye on employees. You should invest in a good point-of-sale system that will help prevent electronic fraud as well.

• The entrance to changing areas: While you can’t have a camera in any area where customers have a reasonable expectation of privacy, you should certainly monitor the ingress and egress of your changing area. This will show you if someone walked in with more items than they walked out with. Another concern is that sexual harassment or assaults can take place in a changing area.

• Employee-only areas: It’s important to monitor back rooms to prevent theft of employees’ personal possessions or store inventory, or other illegal behavior.

• High-value asset areas: Any area of your establishment that’s home to high-priced items, like jewelry counters or purses, should be monitored.

You need cameras and strong risk assessment data

A single robbery can cost your business more than what’s been stolen, especially if you’re using dummy cameras. You can suffer reputational damage, you can find yourself on the wrong side of a liability lawsuit, or you may find yourself explaining to your insurers why your cameras aren’t connected.

Small businesses face enough risks without adding unnecessary liability or relying on “security theater.” With shoplifting on the rise and organized retail crime growing more sophisticated, you need security measures that actually work.

That’s where Circadian Risk comes in. Our security risk assessment software helps you identify vulnerabilities, prioritize the right security investments, and design a plan tailored to your unique risks — whether that’s placing cameras in high-value areas, monitoring employee-only spaces, or ensuring your systems are fully functional. Instead of just hoping your cameras will deter crime, Circadian Risk gives you the tools and insights to build a truly secure environment.

Protect your people, your inventory, and your reputation. Don’t settle for fake security measures. Get real, data-driven security with Circadian Risk.

Find out what your security process is missing. Get your free 15-minute walkthrough today.