The Security Sensei, Jordan Frankel, takes questions from Home Invasion News readers. His advice about securing your property with outdoor lighting may surprise you. .
Q. I leave the porch light and the back porch lights on all night long. There is a motion sensor light over the garage at the front of the house and decorator lights in the flower beds at the front. I have a fenced backyard, but the gate is broken. Is it really necessary to keep the lights on all night?
Most of us already know outdoor lighting is an essential component of any home security plan. But, did you know leaving your outdoor lights on all night is actually a big security no-no? It signals the bad guys you’re probably not home, increasing the chances of your family being targeted. Additionally improper and/or mass merchandising type lighting ( left on all night) provides a clear visual path right to a door or window.
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The key to deterring trespassers is utilizing high power LED motion activated lighting. When activated by a approaching criminal – the bright light typically startles the intruder sending them on to the next house. Properly positioned motion lighting is critical in deterring the bad guys.
In addition, LED bulbs last approximately 50,000 hours or 25 years. The energy savings is truly astonishing, as LED consumes up to 75% LESS energy than a standard outdoor light fixtures. Imagine never having to climb a dangerous ladder again to change a bulb.
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The caveat to my above comment is, it’s definitely okay to leave low voltage landscape lighting on (used in conjunction with LED motion lighting). However YOU do not want your property well lit. The more light you offer the potential intruder, the easier it is for he or she to surveil your property from the streets etc.
More info at www.globalsecurityexperts.com