Would you buy into a neighborhood blanketed by security cameras?
In our story for Wednesday’s Post-Dispatch, we learn about The Villages of Hampton Grove, “a neighborhood that’s being marketed as Missouri’s first fully camera-secure subdivision, where three surveillance cameras resembling tiny, black shower nozzles come standard on the exterior of every home.” Owners of the $200,000 to $400,000 homes have computer access to security camera images from all over the neighborhood. They’ll be able to look back in the archives. There are cameras all over the neighborhood.
In a cutthroat housing market where weeds are sprouting up faster than homes in many unfinished St. Charles County subdivisions, developer Rodney Estes and his brother-in-law Ken Richards – a home and business surveillance expert – said the cameras are proving to be the closer with fickle buyers, especially when they learn they can view the footage from work on the Internet, allowing mom to check whether her teen arrived home from school on time.
The first person to buy into the neighborhood says it gives her peace of mind with her children playing in the area. But the story also notes that some people call it a marketing plan that plays to homeowners’ fears.
But experts who analyze crime statistics wonder if the subdivision ought to be renamed Hysteria Lane. Daniel Gardner, author of the book The Science of Fear, says the developers have hooked into a masterful marketing strategy — appealing to people’s subconscious fear of crime over reason .
What do you think of the idea? Would you be more at peace or more disturbed if you had that level of surveillence around you?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
Would I buy into a neighborhood strictly for the cameras? No. I question whether they’ll really be needed in a subdivision of $400,000 houses. But otherwise, I have no problems with security cameras like they have in the UK. A breach of privacy? What are they going to catch me doing..picking my nose, scratching where it itches, what?
I’m not a scofflaw so why do I care? I can see the ACLU getting involved somewhere down the line but no, I would not buy an expensive house simply for the security camera.
And if that mom depends on the cameras and doesn’t keep her own eyes on her kids, she’s cedeing her parental responsibility. When I was a kid we played outside, often out of sight or hearing of our mom for the whole day, but times are different now. She can’t depend on the cameras to watch her kids.
Humans are terrible risk assessors and this just plays right into that.
“…allowing mom to check whether her teen arrived home from school on time.”
Phone doesn’t work?
What do I care if people want to waste away their money on needless electronic items. If a security camera is a deal closer on a $200-$400K house then there are other issues at work.
I would. I live in a Creve Coeur subdivision of $300,000 homes. I had my car stolen out of my driveway in the middle of night during winter after an ice storm. Thieves like more affluent neighborhoods. Time to fight back with technology.
Absolutely I’d purchase a home in a neighborhood blanketed by security cameras. I now live in a condo building with security cameras on every floor, at every entrance, and others in areas where you have to look closely to find. I don’t feel the least bit intimidated. We have zero crime or theft in our building, now that we recently installed a camera over the newspaper table, discouraging certain residents from helping themselves to someone else’s newspaper!
Paranoid people need neighborhoods too. Bad part is, sneaking out the back door in your undies to throw rocks at the neighbor’s noisy dog ain’t gonna work.
Big Brother is alive and well and living in various St. Charles County municipality’s city councils and Hampton Grove. First its traffic lights, now houses. What’s next, bedrooms & bathrooms? Security by Chuck Berry Enterprises?
Yes I would buy. In todays world where most residents leave their homes behind for 8 to 10 hours it would be a comforting feeling to know I could check on my home. When I grew up mothers were at home all day, it wasnt uncommon to have a relative living with you. Today we leave everything we own sitting out there - I think its a good idea.
I guess I would need to know more about the security of the system. For example, if I can get it over the internet, possibly those who are up to no good can too. Then use that information.
Another thing I would want to know is the reach of the cameras. I don’t want to spy on my neighbors (hey if you want to be topless in the backyard, that’s your business), but don’t want them to have the tools to nose into my life also.
Are you afraid someone will see you picking your nose in public? Or are you afraid that someone will see you littering, and not picking up your doggie’s doo? Or maybe you’re afraid you’ll be caught speeding ridiculously fast thru a quiet neighborhood where you could accidentally hit a small child that darts into the road?
These cameras aren’t prying into your windows. They don’t have xray or infrared. And unless you’re doing something untoward, you really have nothing to fear. And if you’re bold enough to strut nude or something else outside for all your neighbors to see, then you shouldn’t have a problem with some security cameras trying to watch your streets and doors for you while you’re away or asleep.
If I could afford a $400,000 home, I could afford to install my own security system tailored to my specific needs. While I don’t have any problems with security cameras per se, I do have a problem with the program that allows any homeowner to access any camera (and archives!) in the neighborhood. What’s happening on my own property is my business. What’s happening on the property of my neighbor across the street and five houses up is none of my business. Lordy! The neighborhood busy bodies could have a field day with a set up like this!!!
Bottom line. This would not be the selling point for me if I were in the market for a home in this price range. And I’m not sure I would be comfortable living in Paranoiaville.