Skint mum desperate for CCTV because of her ‘dodgy area’ uses £1.59 Santa Cam from Home Bargains to deter burglars

A MUM who couldn’t afford CCTV came up with a brilliant way to deter would-be burglars - by using a kid’s Santa Cam instead.

She revealed she lives in a ‘dodgy area’. so wanted to beef up her home security after yobs smashed Halloween pumpkins on her doorstep. 

But she admitted Christmas had left her pinching the pennies, so she wasn’t able to splash on some CCTV just yet. 

Instead she decided to repurpose Home Bargains’ £1.59 Santa Cam, and stuck it up on her wall facing the street - claiming it looks ‘real’. 

The mum shared her nifty idea on Facebook group , where people have reckoned it’s ‘genius’.

She said: “My area isn't the safest, the people who live on my street are amazing but the people who walk it aren't.

“After someone had walked off the street early hours in the morning, took my son's pumpkins off our doorstep and smashed them the opposite side of the road it made me really wary coming up to Christmas (you can't have anything nice around this area without someone thinking it's their to take)...

"So I decided to buy and try out a Santa cam and use it as a dummy CCTV camera. It looks so real from the outside by the way!

“This is only until I can afford real CCTV once Christmas is out of the way.”

I decided to buy and try out a Santa cam and use it as a dummy CCTV camera

The mum added she shared her idea in case anyone needed a quick fix until payday, if they were also worried about their home in the run-up to Christmas. 

She said: “Thought I'd show you all in case someone is in the same position as me and it only cost £1.59 from Home Bargains. 

“It's in my bedroom window facing outwards so I'm hoping it will deter anyone from attempting anything.”

And just in case anyone was wondering, she confirmed: “I didn't attach the 'santa cam' stickers by the way.”

Dozens of people liked the post, with some sharing their own home security tips. 

One person wrote: “Fab idea I would stick one on outside too with super glue or something high up like a real cam would be.”

Another said: “Honestly this idea is genius.”

A third joked: “Imagine you did add the Santa cam stickers."

Someone else suggested: “Another heads up .... I know this isn’t real but get a cctv sticker and pop it where people can see it they won’t wanna chance weather you actually have it or not.”

While this person added: “You can get a dummy box put up outside your house (we had one of these in our first home).

“Our CCTV lights up if someone/ thing approach’s the drive or garden . I’m sure your Santa cam will be a good deterrent.”

While this mum shares clever Christmas box idea that will help families ‘save a fortune’.

And this alternative John Lewis Christmas ad is even better than the original claim teary viewers.

Plus this mum shares easy way she’s saved hundreds for Christmas WITHOUT cutting back on anything.