Video Doorbell Stolen? Here's Exactly What to Do (And How to Stop It Happening Again)

Yes, thieves steal video doorbells. I've seen it happen. Here's what to do if yours goes missing — and how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

The Incident That Inspired This Article

I work in security in East London. I've spent over 20 years dealing with CCTV systems, access control, and door security. I thought I'd seen everything.

Then a neighbour told me about the video doorbell on their front door. A man walked up to it, looked directly into the camera, reached up, and pulled it clean off the wall. In broad daylight. On camera. He didn't run. He didn't even hurry.

The footage was crystal clear. The police were called. And the neighbour was left with a hole in their wall, no doorbell, and a very unsettling feeling.

This isn't unusual. Across the UK, video doorbells are increasingly being stolen — sometimes by opportunistic thieves, sometimes deliberately targeted. Mobile phone theft and opportunistic crime have risen sharply across London and England, and video doorbells — small, valuable, and mounted right on the front of your house — are an easy target.

Step 1: Check Your Cloud or Local Footage Immediately

If your doorbell has been stolen, do this first.

Log into your doorbell app immediately and download any footage of the incident. This is time-sensitive — some systems delete cloud footage after a set number of days.

What to look for:

• The thief's face (most thieves don't realise how good modern doorbell cameras are)
• Their clothing, build, and direction of travel
• Any vehicles visible in the background — even partial number plates are useful
• The time stamp — this narrows down witness searches

Important: If your doorbell stored footage locally (like Eufy's built-in storage), and the device has been taken, that footage may be gone. This is why cloud backup matters.

Step 2: Report It to the Police

Call 101 (non-emergency) and report the theft. You'll need:

• Your address and the time of the incident
• A description of the device (make, model, colour)
• Any footage you've managed to retrieve
• The approximate value of the device

Get a crime reference number. You'll need this for your insurance claim. You can also report online at Action Fraud — the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, which handles doorbell and property theft reports.

Will the police investigate? Honestly, for a doorbell theft alone, probably not in depth. But your report contributes to local crime data, and if other neighbours have been targeted, it may prompt a wider investigation. Several thieves in the UK have been caught after multiple doorbell reports were connected by police.

Step 3: Check Your Home Insurance

Many home contents insurance policies cover items stolen from outside your home — including video doorbells. Check your policy for:

• Accidental damage or theft cover for items fixed to the exterior of your home
• The excess amount (is it worth claiming for a £120 doorbell?)
• Whether a crime reference number is required (it usually is)

Some insurers offer discounts for homes with video doorbells installed, so you may be in a better position when renewing.

Step 4: Notify Your Neighbours

This sounds obvious, but it matters. Share any footage of the thief with your immediate neighbours — many communities have WhatsApp groups or Facebook groups for exactly this purpose.

BBC One's "Doorbell Detectives" programme showed how a team of neighbours who shared doorbell footage were able to identify and help prosecute a prolific criminal who would otherwise have gone undetected. Community sharing works.

Step 5: Replace the Doorbell — But Do It Differently This Time

This is where most people go wrong. They buy the same doorbell, mount it the same way, and get it stolen again.

Here's how to do it right:

Choose a Doorbell With a Security Mount

Some manufacturers offer anti-tamper mounting plates and security screws that require specialist tools to remove. Look for:

• Ring — offers a security screw kit and anti-removal mounts for most models
• Eufy — the E340 comes with a mounting bracket that can be secured with tamper-resistant screws
• Nest — the wired version is harder to remove quickly as it requires disconnecting wiring

Mount It Higher

Most doorbell thieves are opportunists who reach up and pull. Mount your doorbell at 2.4 metres rather than the standard 1.2–1.5 metres — it's still functional (modern wide-angle lenses compensate) but much harder to grab.

Use a Doorbell Guard or Cage

A metal cage or guard bolted around the doorbell makes removal much harder and slower. Available on Amazon for under £15 — a fraction of the cost of replacing the doorbell.

Enable Backup Cloud Storage

If your doorbell is stolen and you relied solely on local storage, your evidence disappears with it. Enable cloud backup so footage is uploaded instantly, even if the device is taken seconds later.

Pair It With an External Camera

A separate camera covering your doorbell from a different angle means that even if the doorbell is stolen, you have footage from another source. A basic outdoor camera costs £30–50 and can be positioned to cover the entire front of your property.

Which Doorbells Are Hardest to Steal?

Based on my experience in the security industry, here's how the main models compare for theft resistance:

The wired Nest doorbell is hardest to steal quickly — disconnecting it requires cutting or unwiring, which takes time and tools. The trade-off is that installation requires existing wiring.

The Eufy E340 is the best battery-powered option — local storage means evidence is preserved even if the cloud fails, and the mounting system is more secure than most.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Video Doorbells and Crime

Here's something most doorbell review sites won't tell you: video doorbells are not a crime deterrent for determined thieves.

Installing a video doorbell is one of the best defences against opportunistic burglary — emphasis on opportunistic. A thief who sees a camera and decides it's not worth the risk is deterred. A thief who sees a camera and doesn't care — or who specifically wants the camera — is a different problem entirely.

The value of a video doorbell is primarily:

1. Evidence — footage that helps identify and prosecute thieves after the fact
2. Deterrence — for opportunistic crime, visibility of cameras does reduce risk
3. Peace of mind — knowing who's at your door before you open it

It is not a magic shield. It works best as part of a layered security approach — good locks, adequate lighting, a visible alarm system, and a connected neighbourhood.

After 20 years in security, that's the most honest advice I can give.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can police track a stolen video doorbell? Most doorbells don't have GPS tracking. However, Ring and Eufy doorbells are linked to accounts — if the thief resets and re-registers the device, some manufacturers (Ring in particular) have systems to flag stolen devices. Contact the manufacturer immediately with your serial number.

Should I put a sign up saying I have a video doorbell? Generally yes for deterrence — but it also signals to thieves what's worth stealing. A balanced approach is a subtle sign, not a large banner.

Is it illegal to steal a video doorbell? Yes — it's theft, and potentially criminal damage if wiring is involved. Sentence depends on the value and circumstances, but repeat offenders have received custodial sentences in the UK.

Can my doorbell footage be used as evidence in court? Yes — doorbell footage is regularly used as evidence in UK courts. Ensure the timestamp is accurate on your device, and download footage as soon as an incident occurs.

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