Every 22.6 seconds, one burglary happens. It’s natural to want to take additional measures to protect your family from home invasions. While there are obvious deterrents like home security systems, can lighting be used to prevent burglaries?
Lighting can be used to protect homes, according to authorities. Many homeowners question whether lighting is an effective way to prevent burglary. Do lights deter burglars as they fear identification? Or do they allow burglars to look inside and identify what items they want? You might be asking yourself:
What makes a house a target for potential buyers?
What does lighting have to do with home safety, burglary prevention, and home safety?
Are the lights safe to be left on all night?
What can I do to increase the security of my home’s lighting?
The following data and tips can be used to prevent burglary.
Do outside lights deter burglars?
When evaluating outdoor lighting for burglary prevention, one perspective is to look at the role of motivational factors. Data suggests that burglaries tend to be spontaneous and not due to a plan. Take this example:
The majority of burglars are located within two miles of the victim.
A burglary usually takes less than 30 seconds, but some take as long as 90 seconds.
The majority of invaders are men younger than 25 years.
An average burglar has a criminal record that includes assault and drug-related offenses.
These data show that burglars typically target homes they consider easy targets for quick grabs and don’t travel far from their base of operations to do so.
To get the opinions of convicted burglars, one study was conducted. This research was done to determine offender motivations and burglary deterrents. KGW8 News conducted a survey of 86 burglars to collect their responses.
This study found that burglars did not agree on lighting was enough to deter them. Some believed it was a deterrent. One burglar claimed that the combination of blinds and lights created an attractive area.
The study found that almost all burglars would attempt to break into a house if there was a car in the driveway.
Data and responses regarding average burglaries indicate that a home presence is the most important factor in burglary prevention.
Burglars are more likely to enter empty houses. Some seasoned intruders were deterred by cars in the driveway and residents answering their doors. Many indicated that they prefer to work quickly and quietly and leave before anyone is even aware.
According to FBI data, the majority of break-ins take place between 10 AM to 3 PM, as that is when most people are not home. The presence of lighting is irrelevant for the average break-in as the sun would be too bright to overshadow any security lighting.
So do outdoor lights deter crime? However, they can only deter a small percentage of possible burglaries.
Lighting can be used as a deterrent to burglary. However, it is important to make sure your security lighting design does not appear artificial 24/7. This is what we’ll be discussing in the next section.
These are just a few of the many ways that lighting can be used in your crime prevention strategy.
How to deter burglars using lights
Are you wondering how to deter burglars at night? Your lighting can be used as a burglary deterrent by making it appear like someone is at home.
Indoor lights can be used to imitate real behavior and to suggest that someone is at home. You can set your lights to turn on and then off at regular intervals to create the illusion that someone is there. Are you wondering if it is a good idea to leave the outside lights on at night? Don’t. Don’t leave your lights on at night. This sends the wrong message. Choose times when you would normally turn on lighting in the evenings. To give the illusion that someone is walking around your house, you can use timers to set up lights to turn on or off in different rooms.
Smart lighting allows remote control of lights. By leaving your Smart security light bulbs on, you can turn the lights on or off even if you’re not there. To make sure your lights are in sync with the predictable movements of different rooms, turn them on randomly. This method can be used if you have curtains closed. You don’t want anyone to see your home. This can be paired with a video doorbell so that anyone who knocks at your door will believe you are there.
Outdoor motion sensor lighting is the best choice for your home. These lights will brighten your exterior doors and can be used as flood lights, landscape lighting, or any other outdoor security lighting. A sudden porch light will alert neighbors to any suspicious activity. Although you don’t have any control over street lighting, it will make it easier for potential burglars to see your home at night. You can help reduce residential crime by bringing up street lighting issues in your HOA meetings.
Your alarm system should be used to support your motion sensor lighting strategy. No matter how you choose to program lights or use security lighting to protect your home, it is important to make sure your security system is working properly. Even if your lighting strategy is not effective in burglary prevention, you can rest assured that your alarms will sound in the event of an intruder entering your home. This article was written by a lighting specialist at LD lighting. LD Lighting was Established in 2017 and is located in Central Florida, LD Lighting offers services in screen enclosure lighting, pool lighting, outdoor entertainment, and Landscape Lighting in Bradenton FL. We promise to give you the best quality of work and bring your ideas to life.
