I don’t know if Ring had trained psychologists on its staff when it launched the first commercial doorbell camera more than a decade ago. But it is clear that there is psychology behind the idea of using a doorbell camera to stop package theft. That psychology is related to how people think, especially when they suspect they are being watched.
Also known as porch piracy, package theft continues unabated across the U.S. Consumers and retailers lose tens of billions of dollars to the crime every year. It’s no wonder home security providers like Vivint Home Security sell so many doorbell cameras. Consumers are tired of being ripped off by roaming bandits moving through neighborhoods and stealing packages from porches.
That takes us back to the psychology behind fighting porch piracy with a doorbell camera. What is it all about?
Risk Calculation and Deterrence
Visible cameras force a thief to make a decision. The thief must weigh the risk of being caught and/or identified against what could be gained by proceeding with the crime. According to a 2017 research study, this thinking is in line with rational choice theory. In other words, criminals who stop to think about the potential consequences of being recorded on video have a higher propensity to move on to a less risky target.
This makes perfect sense when you consider studies involving incarcerated burglars who say they had a habit of avoiding houses they knew had home security systems. A home security system raises the threat level, especially if there are video cameras involved. But there is more to it than that.
Feelings of Being Watched
Another part of the psychology of the doorbell camera is rooted in the feeling of being watched. A 2018 study analyzing how surveillance cameras influence social behaviors determined that feelings of being watched have a pronounced impact on antisocial behaviors.
The study showed that just a picture of two eyes can cause people to rethink doing things they should not. An actual camera live-streaming and/or recording video is a more powerful deterrent. The effect of video cameras on behavior is in line with what is known as the Hawthorne effect.
A Loss of Anonymity
As a general rule, porch pirates rely on two things to give them an edge: speed and anonymity. The speed of the crime is a given. It takes mere seconds to swipe a package from a porch and flee to a waiting car. As for anonymity, porch pirates know the likelihood of being caught is slim if they cannot be identified.
The presence of a doorbell camera compromises the anonymity of the package theft crime. That leaves thieves with one of two choices: take their chances or cover their faces. The problem with face coverings is that they immediately raise alarms when neighbors see what is going on. A homeowner seeing a masked man approach a neighbor’s porch will at least think about calling the police.
Effective but Not Perfect
There are more reasons doorbell cameras are effective porch piracy deterrents, including the knowledge that a doorbell camera demonstrates a homeowner’s diligence in protecting his property. But doorbell cameras are not perfect. They don’t deter every package thief. Some thieves are not only unbothered by doorbell cameras, but they also go out of their way to taunt homeowners as they steal from them.
Nonetheless, the vast majority of thieves do not want to take chances. The presence of a doorbell camera causes them to rethink their choice of targets. It makes them feel uneasy, as if they are being watched. That’s a good thing in most cases because it chases thieves away.