The Key to Home Security is Proper Lighting

Even if you have the best home security system in your home, you can still be a victim of a burglary. Of course, your odds go way down if you have such a system installed, but no matter how sophisticated your alarm system is, you can still do more to increase the safety and peace of mind of your family. One of the most effective layers of security you can add to your home is your exterior lighting.

Light is the enemy of burglars. They simply do not want to do their crime in areas that are well-lit where everyone can see what they are doing. Light increases their odds of getting caught, so they are more likely to stay away from houses that have a lot of exterior lighting. As such, it is critical to have your yard and house well-lit so burglars aren’t even tempted to break in.

Many burglars prefer to break into houses using front and back doors. It doesn’t seem very complex, but typically, the main entrances to homes are not as secure as homeowners think they are. For this reason, it is beneficial for you to install motion-activated lights directly over your front and back doors. This way, anyone who comes close to your doors will be bathed in light. Motion-activated lighting also attracts attention, especially from neighbors who will look out their windows if they see your lights go on at a time when they shouldn’t.

Your driveway and pathway to your front door should also be well-lit. There are many products on the market these days for this purpose. You can run pathway lights all around your driveway and sidewalk. Some are electric and some are solar, but they are great not only for deterring crime, but also for lighting the path for your visitors.

Another way to use light to deter burglars is to have a bright strobe light connected to your home security system. When the alarm is triggered, there will be a loud siren that sounds, but if you have a strobe light going off as well, the burglar will probably flee. Neighbors might be able to ignore a siren or a bright light, but they will have difficulty ignoring both. The combination of noise and light is one of the best ways to make your home safer and your family more secure. If you have to make a choice, though, go with lighting.