History Main / UselessSecurityCamera

* Also happens in ''Series/LawAndOrder'' and its subseries.
** DoubleSubverted in one ''Series/LawAndOrder'' episode, in which a store camera is both active and shows the killer dragging his victims to where he kills them. The only reason it doesn't get used is because the killer had the video and the trick police used to stall him so he couldn't destroy the evidence before a search warrant arrived was more than the judge was willing to let slide.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'': The boss gets some fake security cameras so that he can pretend to [[BigBrotherIsWatching watch the engineers]] in the hopes of making them work harder. When Dilbert points out that the engineers might object to the idea of being watched, he changes his mind and tells him to hide the fake cameras so that the engineers don't know that the boss is pretending to spy on them. Dilbert throws the fake cameras out.

* Common in Real Life. Many retail stores use dummy cameras to discourage criminals, but these are usually in tandem with a few working ones. In fact, the reason why most in-store CCTV footage is crap, blurry, and grainy is that the store owners are cheapskates who are recycling the same batch of video cassettes over and over again until they're over-recorded so often they are literally worn out. The strategy is to put at least one fake camera (sometimes nothing more than a plastic shell) in plain sight where everybody and their grandma has no choice but to see it at least once while they're in the store. Then, with that as a distraction and/or deterrent, a number of cleverly hidden cameras watch you completely out of sight and mind. It's expensive, but annual losses from stolen merchandise and/or vandalism can potentially be cut by thousands.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'': The boss gets some fake security cameras so that he can pretend to watch the engineers in the hopes of making them work harder. When Dilbert points out that the engineers might object to the idea of being watched, he changes his mind and tells him to hide the fake cameras so that the engineers don't know that the boss is pretending to spy on them. Dilbert throws the fake cameras out.

* One African expedition claimed to have found and [[MokeleMbembe filmed a mokele-mbembe]] (a sauropod-like [[OurCryptidsAreMoreMysterious cryptid]])... too bad they [[CameraObscurer forgot to take the cap off the lens]] while filming.

* Creator/{{BBC}} TV drama ''Series/HotMoney'' was about a group of cleaners who plotted to rob an outstation of the Royal Mint where they worked. The scam involved disabling security cameras whilst notes destined for destruction were stolen from the vault where they awaited incineration. See Real life, below.

* One African expedition claimed to have found and filmed a mokele-mbembe (a sauropod-like cryptid)... too bad they forgot to take the cap off the lens while filming.

* ''Series/{{Forever|2014}}'': The cameras at the 11th precinct and the OCME never catch anything useful, with bad guys doing things like leaving a human heart on Hanson's desk or stealing Henry's autopsy tools, using them in a murder, and then putting them back yet never being caught on camera. Averted once in "The Ecstasy of Agony" when Henry is kidnapped by a new love interest's stalker, and Jo and Hanson find the whole thing was recorded on the station's exterior security cameras, including an image that allows them to track down the kidnapper and rescue Henry. (They ''were'' useless in ''preventing'' the kidnapping or allowing anyone to spot it happening at the time, however.)

* Statistics show that having a camera deters some crime, and a broken camera that looks functional is cheaper than buying a working one or getting it fixed. Because of this commonly-known fact many businesses install empty casings that look like security cameras. [[SubvertedTrope However]], you can also buy real cameras that are disguised as the phony ones to make sharp-eyed would-be crooks drop their guard and be caught on camera, like the security system equivalent to IKnowYouKnowIKnow.

** Zigzagged in the B plot of "[[Recap/CSINYS01E05 A Man a Mile]]." Stella and Aiden ask a nightclub owner for his security camera footage to find out what happened to a 16-yr old girl who was at his club. He says he doesn't have cameras, that they'd be bad for business. So the detectives get footage from neighboring businesses... one of which shows exactly what they need to nail their suspect.

* ''Series/TheWire'' when Kima and [=McNulty=] start tracking down the Barksdale gang's BurnerPhones buyer, they first hit a dead end at the Mondo Mart store chain, where they record over their CCTV tapes every week if there's no major incident, so they go to the only off brand store they know of. That store in turn burns through their tapes daily, but with the help of local law enforcement, they learn that this being a known issue in town, the insurance agent across the street from the store has one camera turned toward the shop's entrance.

* ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'': Destroying the security footage makes all cameras in the level inactive, meaning they no longer spot you and lower your score. The latter is completely averted when playing on Professional Mode however, which allows cameras to alert nearby guards if you trespass, often prompting the player to restart.

* On the ''WesternAnimation/AppleAndOnion'' episode "Music Store Thief", the pair set up surveillance cameras at a music store to try and catch whoever is stealing all the instruments. Unfortunately, Apple aimed all the cameras at one guitar, the most expensive item on the store. When the cameras zoom out, everything else has been stolen.

* A variation with the problem on the display monitor end in the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Sick Day". Kim is guarding an [[MacGuffin invention]] while [[WorkingThroughTheCold suffering from a cold]], and sets a box of tissues in front of the display screen just in time to block the view of Drakken and Shego arriving.
* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': A traffic cam caught not only the boys' inventions, but Perry's comings and goings for the [=OWCA=].

* Common in Real Life. Many retail stores use dummy cameras to discourage criminals, but these are usually in tandem with a few working ones. In fact, the reason why most in-store CCTV footage is crap and blurry grainy is that the store owners are cheapskates who are recycling the same batch of video cassettes over and over again until they're over-recorded so often they are literally worn out. The strategy is to put at least one fake camera (sometimes nothing more than a plastic shell) in plain sight where everybody and their grandma has no choice but to see it at least once while they're in the store. Then, with that as a distraction and/or deterrent, a number of cleverly hidden cameras watch you completely out of sight and mind. It's expensive, but annual losses from stolen merchandise and/or vandalism can potentially be cut by thousands.

* Creator/{{BBC}} TV drama ''Series/HotMoney'' was about a group of cleaners who plotted to rob an outstation of the Royal Mint where they worked. The scam involved disabling security cameras whilst notes destined for destruction were stolen from the vault where they awaited incineration. See Real life, below.
* Subverted on ''Series/AmericanGods2017''. In a flashback, Shadow tries to cheat in a casino but is warned by Laura to walk away before the casino has him arrested. He though that he positioned himself in a spot where the security cameras could not see him but those were the cameras he was meant to spot. He missed a number of other hidden cameras who were recording everything he did and various casino patrons around him were actually casino staff observing him.
* An episode of ''Series/NashBridges'' had Harvey and Evan show up a little too late to prevent a murder and the suspect making a clean getaway. However, Harvey spots a security camera and says they can use the tape to finger their suspect. When reporting their findings to Nash, Harvey reveals that the camera was only hooked up to a monitor and there's no tape to review.

* ''VideoGame/PAYDAYTheHeist'': The security cameras draw cops to the heisters that they watch as long as they are active, but are effectively useless at spotting heisters in stealth. ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'' subverts it: security cameras take time to spot heisters and break stealth, during which the targeted heister can just move out of the way or duck behind cover. The basic security cameras are easy to destroy, which will be picked up on by guards but also make great guard lures. However, the Titan Camera on Mayhem difficulty and above [[MadeOfIron are indestructible]].

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': A traffic cam caught not only the boys' inventions, but Perry's comings and goings for the [=OWCA=].
* A variation with the problem on the display monitor end in the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode "Sick Day". Kim is guarding an [[MacGuffin invention]] while [[WorkingThroughTheCold suffering from a cold]], and sets a box of tissues in front of the display screen just in time to block the view of Drakken and Shego arriving.
* On the ''WesternAnimation/AppleAndOnion'' episode "Music Store Thief", the pair set up surveillance cameras at a music store to try and catch whoever is stealing all the instruments. Unfortunately, Apple aimed all the cameras at one guitar, the most expensive item on the store. When the cameras zoom out, everything else has been stolen.

-->'''Eddy''': Zoom in! Zoom in! Where'd you hide the camera?
-->'''Ed''': ''(Dramatically)'' Only the Claw knows...

** In "[[Recap/CSINYS03E15 Some Buries Bones]]," an armed robber wears a special raincoat designed to reflect light into and dazzle the security cameras, which showed the suspect's movements only as a vague, glaring-bright blob.

* These incidents happen fairly often in ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' as well.
** In one particular case from Season 3, an armed robber wore a special raincoat designed to reflect light into and dazzle the security cameras, which showed the suspect's movements only as a vague, glaring-bright blob.
** Subverted in the B plot of "A Man a Mile." Stella and Aiden ask a nightclub owner for his security camera footage to find out what happened to a 16-yr old girl who was at his club. He says he doesn't have cameras, that they'd be bad for business. So the detectives get footage from neighboring businesses...one of which shows exactly what they need to nail their suspect.

* Some of the surveillance cameras in ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Double Agent'' will be turned off on lower difficulties. Occasionally you'll encounter a non-infrared camera in an area that's too dark for it, rendering it unable to see you (and of course, you can shoot out lights to render some cameras useless too).

* ''Series/TheWire'' when Kima and [=McNulty=] start tracking down the Barksdale gang's BurnerPhones buyer, they firts hit a dead end at the Mondo Mart store chain, where they record over their CCTV tapes every week if there's no major incident, so they go to the only off brand store they know of. That store in turn burns through their tapes daily, but with the help of local law enforcement, they learn that this being a known issue in town, the insurance agent across the street from the store has one camera turned toward the shop's entrance.

* Creator/{{BBC}} TV drama ''Hot Money'' was about a group of cleaners who plotted to rob an outstation of the Royal Mint where they worked. The scam involved disabling security cameras whilst notes destined for destruction were stolen from the vault where they awaited incineration. See Real life, below.

* ''Series/TheWire'' when Kima and [=McNulty=] start tracking down the Barksdale gang's BurnerPhone buyer, they firts hit a dead end at the Mondo Mart store chain, where they record over their CCTV tapes every week if there's no major incident, so they go to the only off brand store they know of. That store in turn burns through their tapes daily, but with the help of local law enforcement, they learn that this being a known issue in town, the insurance agent across the street from the store has one camera turned toward the shop's entrance.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Averted in ''Webcomic/BloodAndSmoke''. During the first chapter, Carson asks Hardigan to check footage from working security cameras.
[[/folder]]

* One ''Series/AdamTwelve'' episode had a car thief tampering with a parking garage’s new camera and then vandalizing the sign about the camera to taunt the owner.

** In one particular case from season 3, an armed robber wore a special raincoat designed to reflect light into and dazzle the security cameras, which showed the suspect's movements only as a vague, glaring-bright blob.

* Some of the surveillance cameras in ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Double Agent'' will be turned off on lower difficulties. Occasionally too you'll encounter a non-infrared camera in an area that's too dark for it, rendering it unable to see you (and of course, you can shoot out lights to render some cameras useless too).

Compare InsecurityCamera, where the cameras are stupid, and you're supposed to be able to avoid them. Another way of putting the difference is that InsecurityCamera is from the perspective of a (hopefully successful) trespasser while UselessSecurityCamera is from the perspective of guards, owners, and law enforcement having to catch a successful trespasser.

* The background to the TV drama ''Hot Money'' was a real-life case at a backwater, relatively low-security, outstation of the Bank of England where old time-served banknotes were stored prior to destruction. The cleaning staff discovered a security gap they could exploit -- as even bank vaults need to be hoovered and duste, and who really watches lowly menials like cleaners? In the storage areas, one of the two cleaners innocently chose to give the security camera a quick dust and a polish of the camera lens. That's their job, right? While Cleaner A was polishing the lens of the camera with a cloth, and blocking its view of what else was going on whilst merely doing her job, cleaner B was stuffing thousands of pounds worth of five and ten pound notes into the black bin-bag attached to her trolley. (As the notes were recalls which were intended for destruction in an incinerator, no accurate count or check was made of them: this became pretty much the perfect crime in RealLife, and was only discovered because one of the perpetrators was busted for an entirely different offence).