Short answer: a sticker on its own won't stop a determined burglar, but it plays straight into how most burglars pick targets. Most break-ins are opportunistic, and the goal of a camera or alarm sticker is to make your home look like more trouble than the house next door.
What burglars themselves say
A 2013 study led by Dr. Joseph Kuhns at UNC Charlotte surveyed 422 incarcerated burglars in North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. Among the findings:
- About 83% said they would try to figure out whether a home had an alarm before breaking in.
- About 60% said they would look for another target if they found an alarm.
- Nearly 60% said they would consider cameras or other surveillance when choosing a target, and over 40% said it would push them to a different target.
In other words, burglars actively look for signs of protection. A clearly visible sticker is one of the first things they see.
How to make stickers work harder
- Put them where they're seen first: front door glass, side and back doors, ground-floor windows and garage entry doors.
- Back them up when you can: stickers are most credible next to a real camera, video doorbell or motion light.
- Use more than one message: pair a camera sticker with an alarm or dog sticker so the property reads as layered security.
- Keep them clean and current: a faded, peeling sticker suggests nobody's watching. Replace them every few years.
Popular picks
- Smile, You're On Camera
- 24 Hour Video Surveillance In Use
- Protected By Alarm System
- Video Doorbell In Use
Want the full set? The Home Security Kit bundles six of the most-used home security stickers for less than buying them individually, or browse all security & camera stickers.
Source: Kuhns, J.B., UNC Charlotte, study of 422 incarcerated burglars, funded by the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (reported May 2013).