| It is not much of a secret that the most promising | | | | something-lurking around outside your home. If you |
| targets for burglars are homes with no one inside. | | | | have pets or other animals that might be on your |
| And the best way to let a burglar know that you are | | | | property, you can adjust the sensitivity of your |
| not home? It is all about the lighting. Sure, your light | | | | motion sensors so that these animals will not be able |
| fixtures can't call the police if someone breaks into | | | | to activate the lights, thus decreasing the possibility |
| your home. But having the right lighting can be a | | | | of a false alarm. An early alert gives you more time |
| great boost to your home security, by deterring | | | | to identify whatever it is that activated the light, and |
| potential burglars from choosing your home as a | | | | call the police if necessary, even before an actual |
| target in the first place. Here are some guidelines to | | | | break-in occurs. |
| help you use indoor and outdoor lighting to your | | | | When installing outdoor lighting, whether with motion |
| advantage. | | | | sensors or without, be sure to set it up high enough |
| Having sufficient outdoor lighting is a crucial part of | | | | so that it will be out of reach to criminals who may |
| ensuring your home security. You will want to be | | | | try to tamper with it or disable it. If a burglar is able |
| especially careful to make sure that you have enough | | | | to easily remove a light bulb, it defeats the purpose |
| lighting near doors and windows, as well as the area | | | | of having lighting in the first place and can pose a |
| around the garage, along the sides of your house, | | | | threat to your home security. |
| and behind your home. These are the places where | | | | Another thing that might make your home an easy |
| break-ins are most likely to happen. Having adequate | | | | target for burglars is if you get into the habit of |
| lighting in these places will eliminate places to hide and | | | | always leaving a single light on inside your home |
| make it much more difficult for potential burglars to | | | | when you leave at night. Patterns like this are easy |
| enter your property unnoticed. | | | | for a burglar to catch on to, and doing something like |
| The best way to both save money and deter | | | | this sends an obvious signal to potential intruders that |
| criminals with outdoor lighting is to use lights that | | | | the "coast is clear." You can greatly improve your |
| have motion sensors. By using lights with motion | | | | home security by, instead of leaving just one light on |
| sensors, not only will you spend less money on your | | | | when you go out, leaving several lights on, along with |
| monthly electricity bill than if you use lights that must | | | | a radio or something else that makes noise. You can |
| be left on the entire night, but you will also increase | | | | use timers so that various lights go on and off at |
| your home security. That is because you will be | | | | different times, giving the impression that someone is |
| notified immediately if there is someone-or | | | | home. |