National Night Out Good Reminder for Security Lighting

Tonight many communities across Texas will celebrate National Night Out and it provides a good opportunity to talk about security lighting.  NNO reinforces the importance of making our communities a safer place to live and play.  The event is designed to heighten awareness of crime and how the community can help.  Burglars search for homes that give them the best opportunity to break-in without being detected. Lighting adds an element of surprise and establishes an occupancy pattern that deters intruders from targeting a home in the first place.

Residents that use outdoor lighting as part of their security plan significantly decrease their changes of being burglarized. In fact, homes without security measures such as alarms and outdoor lighting are up to 300% more likely to be vandalized. Home security statistics tell us that burglars will usually bypass a house if it requires too much effort. Adding light will make it more difficult for them to get onto your property and access your home unseen, thereby deterring potential intruders from making your home their next target.   Many people think of motion sensors and flood lights when it comes to security lighting for your home but it doesn’t have to be this way. Lighting your residence can bring together beauty and the function of security, giving you peace of mind.

The following are a few tips to consider when looking at security lighting for your home:

First, you’ll want to complete a security analysis of your home’s exterior. Walk your property at night and look for areas that might be vulnerable. Thieves will look for easy access points, so make note of any dark spots, ways they could get into your home, or hide on your property. Check all doors, sliding doors, windows, window wells, trees close to the home, anywhere someone could possibly get in or hide without being seen. Donʼt forget about your driveway, garage, or carport.  If you have a large property or acreage, you might want to consider lighting the perimeter of your yard or property, especially if you have lots of trees or a wooded area where someone could potentially hide. Lighting the perimeter makes it even more difficult for a potential intruder to get onto your property, and even more difficult for them to get near your home.

Now that you have a good idea where all the vulnerable areas of your home are, you can start adding light by up-lighting, down lighting, or using path lights. If your front entrance is dark, up-lighting front columns or other architectural features will not only accent the beauty of your home, but will also add security. For dark paths and walkways around or between the house and garage, you can use path lights, down lights, or a combination of both.

Consider having your lighting system setup to be controlled by timers. With a timer you can set the time your lights come on and turn off every day. This makes your home appear to be occupied if your out of town for long periods of time, our just for the evening.

Security Lighting can add curb appeal, safety, and security to your home. If you would like a free consultation on how Landscape Lighting Guru could help you with a security lighting plan for your home, give us a call at 210-710-7737.  A well-designed security lighting system can be beautiful while still providing you peace of mind.