What are your options in a home security system? Well, a good choice for many is a video surveillance security system. With a video surveillance system your security camera is connected directly to a display monitor. You can view (and also monitor) everything that is going on in your home.

Want another option? How about a wireless security camera system? These cameras can be purchased and used either outdoors or indoors. And with the wireless type, you won't have to waste time and money getting cables installed on your property. These systems function wirelessly much the same way a cordless telephone might - with the camera transmitting a signal and the base unit receiving it.

A third option: infrared security cameras. I know, I know, it sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, but they are really useful in using infrared light to capture images - light which we cannot normally see.

This means that if you have to monitor a dark attic, basement area, unlighted garage or back porch, you can install an infrared camera and it will operate even in 'pitch black' conditions.

And for all you penny-pinchers out there, be advised: You don't have to spend a lot of dough to get a very reliable camera. Cheap home security cameras can be purchased for well under $50 dollars, complete systems for under $100 dollars. If you really want to do it on the cheap, why not just buy some fake security cameras. These dummy models look and (to the casual observer) act just like the fully-functional model, but do not, in fact, work -- and you save a bundle in the process.

One of the more recent developments in home security is the type of system that will allow you to view the images displayed by your installed security cameras on your personal computer. These setups require the use of proprietary security camera software. Once installed, you can look at images of your home in Maine while on winter vacation in Miami Beach!

Yes, as a homeowner you have a lot of options when it comes to purchasing security cameras. So, the question remains: who WOULDN'T protect their valuable home with a good security camera?