Do outside lights deter burglars?
One perspective to consider when evaluating the presence of outdoor lighting for burglary deterrence is the role of motivational factors. The data suggests that most burglaries are the result of opportunity, rather than a meticulous plan. For example:
- Most burglars live within two miles of the victim.
- The average burglary takes only minutes (some taking as little as 90 seconds).
- Most invaders are male and less than 25 years old.
- The average burglar also has a record for other offenses, including assault and drug-related crimes.
This data indicates that typical burglars strike at homes they consider to be easy targets to make a quick grab and they don't even go very far from their home base to accomplish that.
One study surveyed convicted burglars to get their take on the subject. The research was conducted to gauge offender motivations and burglary deterrents. KGW8 News surveyed 86 burglars and collected their responses.
The burglars in this particular study did not come to a clear consensus on whether lighting was a sufficient deterrent: "Responses were mixed regarding lights on in a home. Some said it was a deterrent. But one burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location."
Every burglar who took part in the study said that they would knock on the front door prior to attempting a break-in and almost all would reconsider breaking into a home if a car was in the driveway.
Responses and data regarding average burglaries suggest that the most important element for burglary prevention is a presence within the home.
Burglars prefer to break in when the house is empty. Cars in the driveway and residents answering doors was enough to ward off some seasoned invaders. Most indicated a preference for working quickly and quietly and leaving before anyone even knew they were there.
In fact, according to FBI data, most break-ins occur during the day between 10 AM and 3 PM because it is when people are least likely to be home. For the average break-in, the presence of lighting is not even a factor as daylight would overshadow any security lighting.
So do outdoor lights deter crime?They can, but only for a small portion of potential burglaries.
The key to using lighting as a burglar deterrent is to ensure your security lighting design seems natural, and not just on 24/7. We'll cover that in the next section
Using this information, there are a few ways you can use lighting as part of your crime prevention strategy.
