Outside lighting – the double-edged sword
Security light can be a very useful tool for scaring of burglars whilst also providing a convenient light for you.
Security Lighting Margate

You may question why I’m writing a post about Outside Lighting even though its something we don’t actually offer. Two reasons, firstly it was mentioned in the last post Night Time Lock Up Routine, which I hope you have put into practice and if not why not ??? Secondly we frequently have customers enquire about it.

You will have probably heard or read some of these comments:

  • Lights are a good deterrent
  • Security lighting is a major deterrent against burglary
  • Solar security lights are perfect for keeping your residence safe, by discouraging potential intruders
  • This or that security floodlight is ideal for an security measure around your home

As I mentioned before, Outside Lighting is a double-edged sword –

Evidence does suggest that people feel safer at night in well-lit public places when they can see everything around them. The same probably applies to your home too. If you can look out onto your lit back garden from the safety of an upstairs window or the patio doors it may give you a sense of security. I fall into this category, I don’t like to look out of the window into the pitch dark, just in case a face pops up, unlikely, but too many movies have made me think this.   So many will agree it’s good to be able to check what’s going on in the garden and outside the front door late at night from the safety, you feel from inside your home.

To install external lights anywhere you think might be useful but don’t light up your property like Blackpool illuminations. It is generally better not to light up places that cannot be seen by you or your neighbours.  It may also be useful to be able to switch outside lights on from inside the house when you need them. Think about which ones should you leave on for some extra security but ask yourself a really important question:

“Who benefits from the light”
  • If you installed a light above a wall, gate or above an external door and leave it on or have it switch on automatically would an intruder be seen and if so, who benefits you or them?
  • Imagine it’s the early hours of the morning, still dark, you are tucked up in bed sound asleep or away on holiday, the burglar is outside your house thinking about forcing the rear window or door below the light, he knows he can’t be seen by neighbours or anyone passing by…. Makes you think doesn’t it?

Obviously, thousands have thought about this question already and reached the decision to install outside lights, often bright floodlights, all-around their home that is switched on by passive infrared detectors. With the idea that a sudden bright light shining down the garden will scare away the intruder. But we have yet to find any evidence that supports their ‘scare away’ effect. It may also be really annoying to your neighbours if it shines right at their house/window… I am just saying, having experienced it!

A research paper written in 2004 by Ian Hearnden and Christine Magill and published by the Home Office entitled Decision–Making by house burglars: offenders perspectives.

It is interesting that outside lighting is not mentioned by burglars as something that puts them off targeting a particular house.  To be fair to those of you who think light works all the time the authors didn’t ask the burglars a direct question about lighting.  Nevertheless when they were asked what things were more likely to put them off the main deterrents were:  Evidence of occupancy, the presence of an alarm or CCTV camera and the apparent strength of the doors and windows.  Interestingly, one of these findings does indicate an effective use for lighting, which is to use it to give the impression that you are home. Eg. Plug-in light timers especially when you are away on holiday etc.

I’ll focus on Holiday Security in greater detail in a later post.

It’s understandable why people buy these lights, especially if they’ve just been burgled as it is quite natural for victims to try anything that might prevent themselves from being victimised again.  But you must still ask the questions.  If the burglar has already established that you are not at home (having rung your doorbell or seen you go out) and your neighbours are curled up in front of the TV with the curtains drawn, is the sudden onset of a bright light going to scare the intruder away?  If the sudden appearance of light is noticed will it be reported to the police and, in the absence of any other evidence, will the police respond to a light coming on?

So you can see it is a double-edged sword, outside lighting is not a negative thing but some security measures have their limitations and you might be better off spending money on something that has been proven to work rather than wasting it on something that will have limited or no effect.

For more advice contact your local Neighbourhood / Outwatch and Homewatch Scheme.

http://www.ourwatch.org.uk/

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