Video is everywhere these days, between camera phones with video capability and surveillance systems in most retail establishments, businesses have long realized the deterrent effects that closed circuit television systems have on their business. As a result, more people are becoming interested in CCTV systems for their home.

With the digital age, there is no need for the expense of vide cassette tapes and large amounts of storage room. Many digital video recorders can store over 30 days worth of video from up to 16 cameras per unit and your home computer, if properly connected and configured, can be used to pull the video from the recorder with by the minute access available.

An additional benefit is being able to burn that video onto a DVD to hand to the police in the event of an illegal activity occurring on your premises. Most people looking to break into a house will walk away if they see a CCTV system on the outside of the home. It may only be a dummy camera and a wire that goes nowhere, but they do not want to take the chance. For those who really want to catch a potential crook, a residential CCTV system can be purchased and installed by the homeowner.

Whether you install cameras only on the outside, or in various parts of the interior will be your choice, but as many police departments have declared, video evidence of a crime in progress is the best method they have, short of a confession, of securing a conviction.