Security Lighting is a vital component in the fight against Crime! Most burglaries are committed by career criminals who are looking for an opportunity to steal. Research conducted on burglary (with offenders serving sentences for this crime) reveals several interesting points:
- They prefer to work in darkness – concealing their activity and identity
- They do not like lights!
- They prefer to burgle homes which are unoccupied – as they have less chance of being caught!
The main conclusion which can be drawn from these points is to: Light Against Crime!
External Lighting
Although PIR Lighting (activated on movement) is useful, Police now recommend permanent lighting – ‘dusk till dawn!’.
Dusk till Dawn lighting is self activated at dusk, stays on overnight and switches itself off at as it starts to get light!
These units have many positive features including:
- Energy efficient / Low running costs
- Lights up the garden/exterior
- Reduces crime and the fear of crime
- Makes the occupier appear more ‘switched on’ to security!
Internal Lighting
As research shows, burglars prefer to target homes that are unoccupied. Therefore, when we are out we should make our homes appear occupied especially during the darker nights.
There are several devices for activating internal lighting including Timer switches and Light sensitive light bulbs.Timer switches are very useful and relatively cheap. They can be plugged into a socket and used to switch a lamp and perhaps a radio on in a ground floor room. Some models allow for multiple on/off periods and are ideal for an upstairs room - where a light going on and off over a period of time will give the impression that your home is occupied.
Remember – Use Light against Crime!
