When a researcher from the UNC Charlotte Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology studied more than 400 incarcerated burglars to discover what motivates or deters them, one of the most commonly mentioned deterrents was a lack of hiding spots available on well-lit properties. Essentially, the most convenient, affordable, and most successful form of home security is proper landscape lighting.
Home security measures are extremely important for our own safety and the safety of our friends and family. Of course, no homeowner wants to spend thousands of dollars on a home security system or invest in measures that may not actually enhance the level of security. Low-voltage landscape lighting provides an affordable and successful way of increasing home security.
How does outdoor lighting increase security?
An outdoor lighting system increases the security of a residence in a number of ways. Lighting deters would-be intruders by:
1. Illuminating all entry/exit points of a house and a property
2. Eliminating dark areas and potential hiding spots around a property
3. Giving the illusion of an occupied residence
An outdoor lighting system can also help prevent a different kind of intruder. Lighting can often prevent any unwanted wildlife from entering a premise at night. Just like the age-old trick of keeping bonfires lit to deter animals while camping, landscape lights can help keep potentially dangerous animals at bay.
What Lighting Fixtures Are Best for Security?
Flood Lights – Powerful, wide-angled light fixtures are arguably the most popular form of security lights. Better known as a floodlight, it is a simple way of illuminating a large space with a single fixture.
With today’s technology, motion-sensing floodlights are available. This offers peace of mind to homeowners knowing their lights are ready to immediately respond to a disturbance even if the homeowner is not.
Path & Area Lights – Light fixtures with 360-degrees of illumination are helpful in a number of situations. Also described as omnidirectional, these lights are ideal for illuminating pathways and entry/exit points.
Path and area lights offer a more subtle method of lighting up large spaces by creating multiple pools of light. Fixtures with decorative designs and even ones with decorative light outputs are also offered to create a visually appealing design which also helps to create ambiance.
Downlights – Somewhat overlooked but, still highly useful, downlights mounted on elevated surfaces can also increase security. While increasing security by providing area light from above, downlights also provide an elegant moonlighting effect around a home/property. Essentially, downlights can offer a more natural-looking form of a security lighting system.