Criminals do not want to be seen. It is much easier to break into a dark property and stay hidden in the shadows than it is to walk through a lighted area where people will notice you. This is why many break and enters occur at night.

Lighting is an excellent way to protect your home or office.

One of the best ways to install lighting that will protect your property is to add perimeter motion-activated lights. These lights will turn on when movement is detected. Not only does this save energy, but it also can startle burglars and draw attention to anyone approaching your property. Leaving a light on all the time usually isn’t practical, but motion-activated lights are a real nuisance for anyone intent on burglarizing a home!

Another great way to use lighting to protect your home is by installing X10 programmable light timers. These can be scheduled to turn on and off at different times, making it look like people are inside going about their daily lives. A light that is on 24/7 (especially during daylight hours) is a good indication that the home is unoccupied. By creating an atmosphere where lights are automatically set to come on at different times and turned off during the day, no one will know when you’re at home and when you’re not!

Lighting also makes it easier for security cameras to record details. In complete darkness, standard surveillance cameras won’t record anything but black. An infrared camera can help the situation, but having lighting installed near your security cameras is even better.

The positioning and placement of your lighting is also important. If the paths from the street to your front door or the garage to your house are especially dark, you should definitely place lights in these locations. Not only will the lights prevent trips and falls, but they will also deter criminals and prevent ambushes.