Using lighting to keep your home safe

There are many ways to protect your home from burglars. One involves following two simple tips in strategically setting your lighting to ward off intruders. 

• Someone is much less likely to break into your home if it seems like someone is there. Even if you are going away for a few days, you can quickly and simply use lights to give the illusion that someone is home.
• One way is to screw light-sensing sockets into standard lamp sockets that will turn the lights on automatically at dusk.
• You can also use a plug-in timer to turn lamps on and off at certain hours.
• Finally, you can replace a standard light switch with a switch timer that you set by turning a dial. Some models memorize and repeat your daily lighting pattern; others can be set to go on and off at random times to give the appearance of normal activity.

• People are much less likely to commit crimes if it seems like anyone could be watching. Install lights at each side of your entrance door and leave them on all night; if one burns out, you'll still have a lighted entrance.
• To make outdoor walkways safer at night, line them with low-voltage ground lighting or solar lights.
• Have an electrician install floodlights with motion-sensing switches; if anyone approaches your home, the lights will detect his or her movements and turn on, alerting you to the interloper's presence.
• You can adjust the direction of the sensors, the size of the field, and the sensitivity of the system to avoid spotlighting the neighbourhood stray cat. Most models have an override switch.