We have mentioned before that good lighting can be all that is needed to deter crime. Darkness is the ally of the criminal since it allows a criminal to work mostly unobserved. Good lighting can prevent many crimes from happening just by being switched on. Of course just having outdoor security lighting is not enough as it needs to be placed strategically to ensure its optimal effect. So, just where should security lighting be placed around your home or business?
Entrances
All entrances, whether it is at a home or a business, should be well lit. This is your most vulnerable part of the home or business since it is intended for people to enter and exit this way. Not only does light make your entrance more inviting during non-daylight hours, it will have the double effect of deterring a criminal since there will be nowhere to hide while they try to gain entry increasing the chances of being caught.
Don’t forget that your front door is not the only entrance into your home. Any side or back door should also have security lighting placed around it. If you think about it a back door is the optimal place for a criminal to work since it would be out of sight for most other people thus lessening their chance of being caught.
Windows
Just like with doors, windows can provide easy access to a home. It could be as simple as leaving one unlocked and suddenly a criminal has an easy path in, especially if there is no security lighting around a window. Good lighting, combined with the simple task of locking windows can go a long way towards deterring a burglar and preventing a burglary.
The Garage
The garage can be easily overlooked when it comes to security lighting but it shouldn’t be. Many offer another access point into a home with only the doors to the garage preventing access. Many people also neglect to lock the door to the garage, which means that if a burglar can get into the garage, they can get into the home. Security lighting for your garage should not be ignored.
Sheds
Do you have a storage shed at your home or business? What is stored in there? Potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of equipment or products right? You keep it locked, we hope and if you don’t you should. Why not add a few security lights around it to dissuade a burglar from even approaching it to find out what is inside. The cost of installing the security lights will be far less than the loss of the equipment or products inside.
Where Is The Best Placement?
So, what is the best placement for security lights? There is no one set in stone answer to that question as each home, business and property offers a unique situation but the best rule of thumb is to place them in such a way as to avoid blindspots. The more shadows and darkness that your property has, the more hiding places a thief has to choose from.
It is possible to add security lights to places like gardens or a back patio as well. The less darkness there is on your property, the fewer places a thief has to hide which means they will move on to a softer target.
Be A Good Neighbor Too
That of course does not mean that you need to light your home or business up completely in bright illumination. If you do that you might find that your neighbors might encourage a thief to rob you just because of the excess light that shines right into their bedroom depriving them of sleep. There can be a happy medium.
Low intensity security lights work very well and can easily double as part of a landscape lighting system. At the same time higher intensity lights like floodlights can be put on motion sensors so that they come on only when motion is detected. This means they will not constantly be shining and should a thief approach your property they will believe that they have been spotted. Even if they think that it is a motion sensor they will not want to take that chance. These sensors can be programmed to ignore small wildlife like birds or squirrels so they don’t come on every time a leaf blows through your backyard making everyone happy. Except for the criminal.
It will be a very happy day when we can live in a society where security lighting is not necessary but that is not the case at the present. Well placed security lighting along with some common sense measures can be all that is needed to dissuade a thief from even trying to break into your home or business. Add some security cameras in too and you can have some peace of mind.
