What do you think is more safe at night? Leaving a light on, outside your house, or leaving it off?

Question

I was thinking that when you let the lights on, outside of your house, a burglar can have better vision and access, versus leaving it off and if you sense that someone's out there, you logically know your house better than the stranger. I know that a light would give the owner of the house better vision too of who's outside, but... the stranger could see you, if you have the lights on! Discuss.

Answer 1

light on wont help or hurt you as far as who can see whom. The reason outside lights are good is that they help stop burglars from even attempting to get into your house. If your house is lite on the outside then they will most likely go to one that is not because they will have less chance of being seen by the neighbors or people driving by. I dont worry we have never been bothered with this problem I always have a BIG dog :D

Answer 2

I am a firm believer that lights off is a far better way to go.

When I originally moved into the neighbourhood, most of my neighbours felt the same way - and we had no burglaries.

The neighbourhood has become a lot more affluent these days with increased house prices.  These newcomers firmly believe in lighting up their houses like xmas trees.  Result we have a lot more burglaries, even with a neighbourhood watch patrol.

Note we do not have street lighting.

When I take the dog for a walk, even with all this lighting it is easy to fade into the shadows when the neighbourhood watch drives past.  If I find this possible, so would any perspective burglar.  The burglar can take his time, looking for weak entry points into the house without really raising any suspicion of his intentions as the houses are so well lit up.

When the houses were not lit up outside, the perspective burglar had to bring his own lighting with him.  This immediately alerted the neighbours if the saw someone with a flash light outside one of the houses.

Answer 3

Lights on waste power, & indicate you may be home.

Better is having outside lights on motion detector switches.

Of course, then animals will trigger them, & be scared off.

You can also get remote operated switches, you turn on.

Answer 4

A motion detector light is best. Light is on when there is motion adnd nothing else.