The Use of Light to Secure Your Home

Lights have long been known as a means of welcome family and guests. Sailors were often welcomed home by finding that those who loved them most left candles glowing in the windows. However, today we find lights a key partner in staving off a criminal element from invading our homes. It is remarkable how effective a well thought out lighting plan can be in securing personal property.

Confusion can be an ally in the security of your home. A simple electronic timer can be an effective means of convincing burglars that you are home. When lights turn on and off at various times, a burglar may come to believe that someone is in the home and entertain second thoughts about the viability of a robbery attempt. Timers can also be used to turn home entertainment centers on and off in your absence lending credibility to the belief that there is someone inside the home. These timers can be one of the most cost effective forms of the use of light to deter both budding as well as more experienced burglars.

Many homeowners have used dusk to dawn lighting as part of their home security plan. While this does provide a measure of protection it may do little to actually alert homeowners to any theft potential due to the light’s consistent glow throughout the night. Unless a neighbour sees the intruder or someone in your own home is awake to monitor events, robbers may simply approach the home in the same manner they might under the cover of darkness. Furthermore, a ‘dusk to dawn’ system will also require more frequent bulb replacement as well as an increase in associated energy costs.

For the outside of your home we recommend an effective canvassing of your property with motion sensing lighting. In this set of circumstances, well placed lighting activates when movement is picked up by the light’s sensors. Lights should be strategically placed to cover all entrances to your home and should operate independent of any other lights in your home. If these lights are well positioned they can make it very difficult to for a burglar to slink onto your property without appropriate detection. This type of lighting can temporarily disorient the thief and provide you with an opportunity to get a good look at the offender without them being able to see you. It is important to remember that lights such as these should be placed out of arms reach. When this tip is not followed burglars realise the lights may be easily destroyed on a subsequent visit. Another satisfying feature of motion sensing lighting is its ability to operate using much less electricity than traditional dusk to dawn lighting.

Some homeowners have considered a unique blend of dusk to dawn lighting and motion sensing technology. In this scenario, outdoor lighting remains available consistently using low wattage. This can provide a warm glow to your property. When motion sensing technology detects movement the lights immediately switch to full illumination. The effect combines both an esthetically pleasing night time look to your home with an efficient theft deterrent.

Burglaries are an ongoing issue and homeowners can provide the most effective means of thwarting robbery attempts. Those who burgle are primarily males under 25 years of age. They are typically looking for easily portable items like jewelry, cash, guns and laptop computers that can easily be sold. While force of entry can and is used in many burglaries, the primary choice of a robber is easily accessed properties. Three of the best deterrents we know of are proper lighting, lack of ready accessibility to your home and home security systems or burglar alarms. When these three are combined, burglars are more than willing to avoid your home. You are no longer viewed as an easy target. Should your neighbourhood provide a united front by including these features in the majority of homes, you will discover a more secure atmosphere for your family.

We know that lighting alone can not prevent crime nor can it absolutely assure the ultimate safety of your family, but statistics prove that a well lit property is an effective crime deterrent and is regularly used as a primary component in comprehensive home security plans.

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