When most people think about home security they picture cameras. A camera mounted above the front door, a doorbell camera that sends a notification when someone walks up. It feels like security because you can see what's happening.
But there's an important distinction that rarely gets discussed at the point of sale. Cameras are primarily evidence gathering tools. An alarm system is an active deterrent that attempts to stop a crime in progress. These are two different jobs and understanding that difference changes how you think about protecting your home.
I'm Scott Ferguson. I've been in the alarm industry since 2006 and I founded Kiwi Alarms in Reno in 2024. I install both cameras and alarm systems and I have this conversation with homeowners regularly. Here's how I explain it.
- Records what happens on your property
- Provides evidence for police and insurance
- Active deterrence features can discourage intruders
- Lets you monitor remotely from your phone
- Cannot contact emergency services
- Cannot interrupt a crime in progress
- Evidence gathered after the fact
- Detects intrusions through door and motion sensors
- Alerts a live monitoring center within seconds
- Dispatches police automatically if needed
- Works whether you're home, at work, or on vacation
- Yard signs and stickers deter burglars before they approach
- Does not record visual evidence on its own
What a Camera Actually Does
A security camera records what happens on your property. If someone breaks into your home while you're at work, the camera captures footage of it. That footage is useful for identifying the person afterward, filing a police report, and potentially supporting an insurance claim.
What a camera does not do is stop the break-in from happening. The camera is passive. It watches. It records. It stores the evidence. But by the time you're reviewing the footage, the crime has already occurred and the intruder is already gone.
Modern cameras with active deterrence features like LED lights and audible warnings that trigger when motion is detected are a step toward prevention. A would-be intruder who sees a camera activate and hears a warning tone may choose to move on. That active deterrence element is genuinely valuable. But even the best camera cannot contact the police or dispatch emergency services on your behalf.
What an Alarm System Actually Does
A monitored alarm system is designed to interrupt a crime in progress and summon help.
When a door sensor triggers or a motion detector activates, the monitoring center is alerted within seconds. A live operator attempts to reach you by phone. If you don't answer, or if you confirm there's an emergency, they dispatch police to your address immediately. This happens whether you're asleep, at work, or on vacation on the other side of the world.
The response begins before the intruder has had time to take anything of value. In many cases the alarm itself is enough to send them running. Most break-ins are opportunistic. A burglar who triggers an alarm and hears a siren knows that police are on the way. The vast majority choose to leave rather than stay.
The yard sign and window stickers that come with a monitored alarm system serve a deterrent function before anyone even approaches the property. Studies consistently show that homes with visible alarm system signage are less frequently targeted than homes without it.
The Evidence Problem With Cameras Alone
Imagine coming home to find your house has been broken into. You check your camera footage. You have clear video of the person who did it.
What happens next is often frustrating. You take the footage to police. They note the description. In most cases unless the person is immediately identifiable the investigation stalls. Camera footage is useful but it requires follow-up investigation, identification, and prosecution that is not guaranteed. Your belongings are still gone.
An alarm system does not guarantee a different outcome but it changes the sequence of events. The response begins while the crime is in progress rather than after it is finished.
The Case for Having Both
Cameras and alarm systems are not competing products. They serve complementary purposes and together they provide more complete protection than either one alone.
An alarm system protects the home by alerting and dispatching. Cameras document what happens for evidence, identification, and insurance purposes. If an intruder does breach a monitored property despite the alarm, camera footage of the event is extremely valuable.
What About Doorbell Cameras
Doorbell cameras are probably the most widely owned security device in America right now and they do a genuinely useful job. Package theft, porch visitors, and after-the-fact identification of suspicious activity are all things a doorbell camera handles well.
What a doorbell camera does not do is monitor the interior of your home, detect a break-in through a back window, or contact emergency services. It is a narrow field of view device that covers the front approach and little else.
A doorbell camera as your only security investment leaves most of your property unmonitored and provides no active response capability whatsoever.
The Bottom Line
Cameras are for documentation. Alarm systems are for intervention.
If your goal is to gather evidence after the fact, cameras are the right tool. If your goal is to stop a crime in progress and summon help before damage is done, a monitored alarm system is what you need. For most homeowners who want genuine peace of mind the answer is both, working together as a single integrated system.
I install both cameras and professionally monitored alarm systems throughout Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and a 100-mile radius. Every install is done personally by me. Call or text 775-247-7782 for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cameras enough to protect my home without an alarm system? +
Cameras are valuable for evidence and deterrence but they cannot contact emergency services or interrupt a crime in progress. A monitored alarm system adds active response capability that cameras alone cannot provide.
Can I have both cameras and an alarm system? +
Yes and for most homeowners this is the recommended approach. Cameras document events and provide visual evidence while a monitored alarm system detects intrusions and dispatches help. When integrated they work as a single system through one app and one monitoring center.
Do security cameras deter burglars? +
Visible cameras, especially those with active deterrence features like LED lights and audible warnings, can deter opportunistic burglars. However determined intruders may proceed regardless. A monitored alarm system with audible sirens and police dispatch provides a stronger deterrent and an active response that cameras alone cannot match.
What is the difference between a monitored and unmonitored alarm system? +
A monitored alarm system connects to a professional monitoring center that contacts you and dispatches emergency services when triggered. An unmonitored system sounds a local siren but takes no further action. Professional monitoring ensures a response even when you are unavailable or unaware.
Do you install both cameras and alarm systems in Reno? +
Yes. I install security cameras, doorbell cameras, and professionally monitored alarm systems throughout Reno and a 100-mile radius. All systems are monitored by Brinks Home Security. Call 775-247-7782 for a free consultation.
Related reading: Security Camera Installation Reno · Home Security Systems Reno NV · How to Choose the Right Security System