Like a Pitbull Terrier that frightens intruders but won’t actually do anything, fake surveillance cameras can provide a suitable deterrent to some intruders. You can put them anywhere, even if you can’t get video cabling to them. Most prowlers won’t stop to check, since their entire plan depends on secrecy.However, fake cameras can create liability issues if an innocent person believes they are real, and the mistake puts them in harm’s way. In one real-life scenario, a woman was walking at night and was suddenly chased by a prowler. She had the option of either running to the corner for help, or running to a security camera she saw at someone’s house. The woman believed she had an equal chance of getting help with either option, but ended up choosing the cameras only to discover that they were fake. Later, she was able to convince a jury that the homeowner owed her damages.One thing many people consider when purchasing cameras is price. Dummy cameras run much cheaper. The P3 International Dummy Camera w/ Blinking LED, for instance, runs in the range of 11-13, while the Security Labs SLC-100 Mini Dummy Dome Camera will only set you back 8 if you go to the right place. For actual cameras, there are a wide range of prices, ranging from the 34 Swann SW212-MXL MaxiBrite camera to the 299 Swann Alpha Security Camera.So what are the options? The best is to have a combination of real and fake cameras. The fake cameras will dissuade actual prowlers, since real cameras are often hidden and therefore not a deterrent. However, those real cameras will provide legal backing for you in the (admittedly small) chance that something along the lines of the above situation should occur.