Video doorbells are the future of home security. Ring, Nest, August and other brands allow residents to watch what's going on outside our front door when you are at home or anywhere else.

Porch Pirate package thieves usually see smart doorbells and run away knowing they are already caught, but what happens when criminals try to steal your smart video doorbell?

Recently, a few brazen thieves have been caught on camera stealing smart doorbells. They could be preparing for a future theft (tip - always have back up cameras around your home) or just wanted the doorbell to reset and keep their home safe:) Either way, here's what you need to know to protect your home and video doorbell.

What to do when your video doorbell is stolen?

The top two smart video camera doorbell companies are Ring and Nest. Both offer backup subscription services that stream your video feed to a cloud storage account. Make sure you are paying for backup services and know how to save video clips in case you need evidence. Even if your doorbell is gone, you will have video and pictures of the perpetrator in the act.

* Note that cloud backup erases history within 5-30 days (depending on subscription plan) unless you download clips.

Once you have downloaded clips, make sure you notify the police and get a police report. A report is key to requesting a replacement doorbell. Both Ring and Nest offer free replacements in case of theft.

How to prevent theft of your video doorbell

One of the best ways secure your doorbell is by having it professionally installed and connected by the Smart Home pros at Doorbell Ninja. The more secure your doorbell installation is, the harder (and longer) thieves will take remove it. The process of removing a professionally installed doorbell with cloud backup with be well documented, louder and more obvious to neighbors and bystanders. Most crooks don't want to waste their time stealing something that's bolted in, recording their every move and that increases their risk of being busted.

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