Do Doorbell Cameras Really Deter Crime?

Reviewed September 28, 2026

A visible doorbell camera may make someone reconsider approaching your home. It can also alert you to activity and record what happened. But a camera is not a guarantee against package theft or a break-in, and there is no sound reason to promise a particular reduction in crime at your front door.

The useful question is broader: what should the doorbell help you do? See a visitor before opening the door, know a delivery arrived, save footage of an incident, or take action while something is happening? Those goals call for different features—and sometimes more than one camera.

What the research actually tells us

A 2019 review of 40 years of CCTV research found a modest overall reduction in crime associated with CCTV. Results varied by setting, and systems with active monitoring or additional security measures performed better than cameras used alone. That supports treating cameras as part of a security plan. It does not establish how much a single residential doorbell will reduce porch theft.

In a 2013 UNC Charlotte survey, 60% of the incarcerated burglars surveyed said an alarm would lead them to look for another target. That finding concerns alarms and reported intentions; it was not a field test of doorbell cameras or package-theft prevention.

Our recommendation is to buy a doorbell for the specific visibility, notification and recording it can provide. Any deterrent effect is a benefit, not a substitute for sound door security or a sensible delivery arrangement.

Seeing, identifying and responding are different jobs

A camera that captures a package being taken has recorded evidence; it has not necessarily prevented the theft. Likewise, an alert on your phone does not mean a monitoring operator is watching or emergency responders have been notified.

Check the porch view before choosing the camera

Start at the spot where packages actually land. Can the camera see that area as well as the face of a visitor? A wide street view can look impressive while missing the doorstep directly below the lens.

Compare the vertical field of view as well as the horizontal one. As an example, Alarm.com's ADC-VDB750 documentation lists both measurements separately. The numbers alone cannot tell you whether a railing, storm door or recessed entrance will block the important part of your view; that needs to be checked at the actual mounting position.

For New England entrances, consider the arrangement year-round. A screen or storm door may sit between the camera and a visitor. A deep porch roof changes the lighting, and a snowbank may hide a delivery spot that was visible in September. In a multi-unit building, focus on your entrance and agree on an appropriate setup with the property owner.

If deliveries arrive at a garage or side door, a separate outdoor security camera may answer the question better than a front doorbell. The right location matters more than adding another feature to a view that misses the activity.

Make notifications and recordings useful

Before considering the installation finished, test a normal delivery from the approach through leaving the package. Review the saved recording—not just the live view—and answer these questions:

• Does the clip start early enough? You want to see the approach, not only someone walking away.
• Can you see the package area? Check small parcels as well as a large box.
• Does an alert arrive when it should? Confirm the right phone and account receive it.
• Can you find and save footage? Understand retention, clip limits and any required service plan before an incident.
• Does the night picture remain useful? Test with your normal porch lighting and with a moving person.

Tune activity zones so routine traffic does not overwhelm you with alerts. Keep the essential approach inside the detection area, then test again. A setting that makes the phone quiet is only helpful if it still catches the events you care about.

Also distinguish power from connectivity. A wired doorbell can still depend on Wi-Fi for its network connection. If you are comparing battery-powered options, review how cold weather affects outdoor cameras.

Reduce the opportunity for package theft

Use the camera alongside practical delivery choices: a pickup location for a valuable shipment, a signature when appropriate, prompt collection, or a secure delivery container that the carrier can actually use. Give delivery instructions that keep parcels out of easy street view without making them inaccessible.

For burglary concerns, evaluate the doors, locks, windows and alarm coverage too. A doorbell views one entrance. It cannot detect every way into the house or replace the detection and response arrangements of a home security system.

Two-way audio can be convenient for a visitor or delivery driver. It should not require you to confront someone who appears threatening. If you believe an emergency is in progress, prioritize your safety and contact emergency services.

When a doorbell is a good fit—and when to look further

A doorbell is often useful when your main concern is the front entrance and you want visitor alerts, a live view and recorded clips in a convenient place. It becomes less complete when you need to cover a long driveway, a detached garage, multiple delivery entrances or an unattended property.

For those situations, start with the coverage and response you need, then choose the equipment. Our home security camera buying guide explains the broader choices. If the missing piece is having someone review an alarm event, learn how video verification works; it is a separate arrangement, not an automatic doorbell feature.