COVER FEATURE
WHO’S AT YOUR DOOR?
From deterring burglars to ensuring packages are safely delivered, a video doorbell has many benefits. Robert Irvine explains why you should buy one and which device to choose
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Receive phone alerts when someone’s at your door
• Monitor movement on your doorstep 24 hours a day
• Watch and speak to unexpected visitors remotely
• Get notified as soon as packages are delivered
• Set ‘motion zones’ to limit the number of alerts
• Make your doorbell’s rechargeable battery last longer
It’s nearly 10 years since Ring launched the first video doorbell in the UK. Back then, they seemed like an ostentatious gimmick, installed by people who wanted to draw more attention to their luxury homes than to stop them being robbed. There were also concerns they could be used to spy on passers-by.
Nowadays, video doorbells are almost as familiar a sight as the traditional ‘ding-dong’ chime style, and at least one of your neighbours probably has one. But if you’ve never been tempted to buy one, figuring that you’re perfectly capable of answering the door, you may not realise what you’re missing out on.
Equally, you may have already bought a
Ring doorbell, but been put off using it after Amazon hiked the price of its Ring Home (formerly Ring Protect) subscription last year. Thankfully, there are lots of other smart doorbells to choose from.
In this feature, we explain the benefits of getting a video doorbell for your front door, highlight their most useful options and reveal how to unlock the full potential of these handy home-security devices. We also recommend the best doorbells you can currently buy from trustworthy brands, which won’t rip you off with hidden fees. Many give you the choice of wiring them into your existing doorbell setup or using them wirelessly.
6 REASONS YOU MUST BUY A VIDEO DOORBELL
1 Strengthen your home security
The very presence of a video doorbell is enough to deter many would-be burglars, thieves and vandals. Home intruders often knock on the door or ring the bell before they break in, so the risk of being caught on camera may make them think twice.
A video doorbell alerts you when motion is detected at your front door and captures evidence of potential criminal activity. This tells you – and the police – exactly when and how it happened, and helps identify the perpetrator.
Most devices have a ‘night vision’ feature (pictured above right) that enables them to stream and record clear footage in low light or dark conditions using infrared technology. Some doorbells can even do so in colour.
The police treat doorbell recordings in the same way as any other security camera, and encourage the public to provide it to aid their investigations. Footage has been used in cases ranging from flytipping (www.snipca.com/54300) to murder, and helped secure thousands of convictions.
Video doorbells use night vision for reliable surveillance after dark
2 Protect your package deliveries
Video doorbells also discourage so-called ‘porch pirates’ – thieves who target packages left on doorsteps. If they’re bold or stupid enough to try anyway, you’ll know who they are.
Better still, you can prevent packages from being left unattended (or undelivered) in the first place, by speaking to the person delivering it directly via the doorbell (pictured below). Tell them you’re not home and to leave the item in a safe place or with a neighbour, or to redeliver it at a more convenient time. Some video doorbells alert you when a package is delivered, even if no one presses their buttons.
Use your video doorbell to tell couriers where to leave packages
3 Screen visitors from anywhere
Being able to see who’s at the door without answering it is undoubtedly the biggest benefit of a video doorbell. This means you can avoid dealing with unexpected and unwanted callers, and verify who people are before you open the door to them.
You can even handle visitors when you’re not home by using your doorbell’s remote-monitoring feature. Just open the app on your phone or tablet to see who’s at the door, tell them when you’ll be back or keep an eye on them until they leave.
4 Monitor your family and pets
Video doorbells offer a convenient way to keep track of your own family’s movements, especially older and infirm relatives. They tell you precisely when someone entered or left the house or flat, so you can be reassured they got home safely or take action if they leave the door open.