Home security is a topic that's been on the mind of many a home owner these days. Crime rates are on the rise and more and more people are feeling unsafe even in their own homes. It's an unfortunate fact that break-ins, according to FBI statistics, occur every 20 or so seconds. It's also unfortunate that criminals find it so easy to break into people's homes. The stark blinding truth of the matter is that even though many home owners are genuinely worried about their home security situation, they aren't doing enough to prevent break-ins and other property crimes from happening. But it's not all doom and gloom. Surprising as it may sound, making your home a safer place doesn't mean spending a princely fortune.
Break-ins are first and foremost crimes of opportunity. Criminals choose homes that they perceive to be easy targets. Now you may think that your home is safe and sound, but you probably aren't looking at the subject from the point of view of a thief.
You should always keep in mind that thieves are a crafty lot. They use unexpected means to get into a house. More often than not thieves actually don't have to use force to gain entrance to a house. They'll simply climb through an open window, through a skylight, through an unlocked garage door or they may even walk right through the front door. Homeowners tend to get sloppy and complacent about locking up doors and windows making their homes ripe targets.Thus, the first step to take to reinforce your home security is to make your home look fortified. A well kept, carefully maintained home is much likely to become a target for criminals. A big part of this has to do with proper lighting. A home that is lit up is a home that thieves will think twice about. In fact, they'll probably pass it up altogether because they don't want to be caught.
The exterior of your house should be visible at night as well as during the day. Experts recommend that homeowners use motion activated lights in combination with low energy high efficiency lighting controlled by a photo electric cell or a dawn to dusk switch. Low energy lights can be kept on all night without putting a major dent in your electricity bill. They are definitely more environmentally friendly than say tungsten halogen floodlights and they can easily be placed out of reach of passing criminals. Floodlights, on the other hand, generally aren't recommended by home security experts. They consume a lot of energy. They also create large shadows, making it much easier for criminals to hide. They are harsh and usually a nuisance to neighbors. They can easily be taken down and are unreliable. Flood lights may also increase the fear of crime as they may activate without due cause.
As for interior lighting, it's always a good idea to place a few lamps on timers to make it look like someone's home.
Light Up For Home Security