Security Lighting
Lighting - Exterior
A useful addition to perimeter security can be exterior lighting, either switched manually or automatically operated. Lighting does have its limitations – burglaries often take place during daylight hours; if the light is activated, someone has to notice it – and take action. Lighting should be seen as an aid, but on its own it is not sufficient to deter a burglar.
Lights can be useful on the approach to a front or rear door or garage, not only lighting up if someone approaches your house, but also when you approach, so that you can see if anyone is lurking in the shadows.
Lighting - Interior
A sensible arrangement of leaving lights switched on inside the house while the house itself is unoccupied can substantially help to give the impression to a passer-by that the house is in fact occupied. It is sensible to use a downstairs room with a drawn curtain and sufficient light inside to suggest that the room is occupied.
There are many automatic devices available – simple and extremely sophisticated – that will turn lights on and off in random fashion and may even be set to control other electrical appliances such as the radio or television. Automatic switching will help to convince the casual thief that the house is occupied.