Security Lighting

Adequate lighting, both indoors and outdoors forms an essential part of home security. The less shadow and darkness around your home, the more difficult it is for an intruder to work undetected.

The rear of a property is often the most vulnerable area, being away from the road and the possibility of observation.

Outdoor security lighting at the rear of a property is a must, and is best triggered by motion sensors so as to not disturb people sleeping in neighboring properties, as would be the case if the lighting was permanently on at night time.

The lighting can be adjusted so that the arc of light covers the most 'at risk' area after dark, and only stays on for a minute or two, enough to make a would-be intruder want to leave.

Porch ways are another useful area to have lighting installed, to prevent an intruder from working in the shadows. These can be operated by a simple on/off switch indoors, or by sensors triggered by the ambient lighting or by movement. Make sure that the light is located sufficiently high in the porch so that it cannot be easily disabled by an intruder.

If you use automatically opening garage doors, it is sensible to have the lighting come on in the garage as the doors open, so that you can see if anyone is hiding in there.

The only time exterior lighting does not provide sensible security cover, is when you live in a remote area, well away from other dwellings, and you are away from home. In that situation, an intruder would have plenty of light in which to work undisturbed. Far better in these circumstances for you to install some of the other security systems mentioned on this site.

Lights left on indoors after dark suggests someone is home, so when you go out for the evening leave a few lights on in rooms where the curtains are closed. It is a bad idea to leave lights on all day when away on vacation. Any career criminal (as opposed to an opportunistic amateur) will soon realise that the house is empty and may well target your home for robbery.