Did you see that? Someone just came out of our neighbors' house and jumped into that running vehicle.

Dave and Kathy had just come home from dinner when they saw a stranger coming out of their neighbors' home. Their neighbors' Don and Suzie were on vacation and had asked Dave and Kathy to keep an eye on their house while they were away. Dave called the police immediately and when they arrived everyone went into Don and Suzie's house. The place was in shambles. Furniture was knocked over, and clearly some of their artwork was missing.

Kathy called Don and Sue at the hotel they were staying at and broke the bad news to them. "The police say they'll report the incident, but there's really no way of knowing who it was from the brief description that I saw" said Kathy. Don immediately went on to the Internet and in a matter of minutes; he had a full description of the thieves.

What Dave and Kathy (and the thieves) didn't know was that Don had installed a hidden camera in his home and with the included software, he could view what the camera saw from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Also, with the digital recorder that was attached he could show the police exactly what went on in the house.

A hidden camera is a video camera that's used to film people without their knowledge. They are small enough to be placed in plain view without anyone even noticing that they are there. (That's why they're called "Hidden Cameras") Hidden cameras have become very popular for household surveillance, because they can be built into common household objects such as smoke detectors, clocks, table lamps, radios, flowerpots, and the list goes on and on. In fact surveillance cameras can be built right in to just about any household item you can think of so they will blend flawlessly into your décor while monitoring everything in the room.

Thirty years ago hidden cameras were for government agencies, large corporate businesses, and a few exotic millionaires who could afford them.

Today, surveillance equipment is affordable and available to just about anyone who wants it. Over the years, surveillance cameras have become smaller and less expensive, and contrary to popular belief, they are not exotic luxuries, available to only a privileged few, and they are not just for the voyeurs or spies of this world.

Small businesses and retail stores can tape employees and customers overtly or covertly to counter theft, violence, vandalism or sabotage.

And homeowners can now afford to keep an eye on their homes or even vacation property while they're away.

Many businesses will place surveillance cameras in plain view to deter criminal activity.

Nanny cams are another name for hidden cameras, and are becoming more popular every day for good reason. It would be nice to think that you can trust a baby sitter with your most precious of all things (your children) while you're away, but that's not always the case, and for a few hundred dollars you can see exactly what's going on, and either confirm your suspicions or put your mind at ease once and for all. Many hidden surveillance systems can even allow you to view what the camera is seeing in real time, right over the internet from anywhere in the world.

A hidden camera can be wired or wireless. The wired cameras are connected to a TV, VCR, or DVR, whereas a wireless surveillance camera can be used to transmit a video signal to a wireless receiver up to ½ mile away.

For mobile-covert surveillance, hidden cameras can even be disguised as clothing such as a necktie, ball cap or even a button on your shirt. Miniature DVD recorders that are small enough to fit in your pocket can record everything the hidden camera sees for later viewing. Or with a wireless receiver, you can transmit the video to a remote location where someone else can be viewing and recording in real time.

Hidden cameras may also be used commercially as security cameras, although most businesses would prefer to use visible cameras that can help to deter crime as well as record it.

About the Author

SA Rubin is the owner of North American Security Products, LLC. A company dedicated to providing you with the means to protect and defend yourself against crime. For more information on Hidden Cameras, visit www.nasecurityproducts.com where you'll find a complete line of surveillance equipment for your home and business. Copyright: 2006