Yard lights - a theft deterent or not?

[gitrdun]

I live on an acreage. Some of my neighbors have been the victims of theft. We all have yard lights that come on when the sun goes down. These yard lights provide potential thieves a means to find their way to whatever that they wish to steal. My latest deterrent has been to turn off all of the yard lights and leave the place totally in the dark. My driveway to my house is 300 yards long, without any means of escape. So, I've decided to leave the lights off and leave the place and it's approach in total darkness. My thinking is that if I were a thief, I'd not want to wander in the dark, not find my way around and perhaps come upon something totally unexpected (I'll leave that to your imagination as to what it may be). Anyhow, my dear wife and I are in total disagreement as to which is the best deterrent. She wants the yard lights on, and I don't. My reasoning is that thieves will potentially have to use lighting to find their quarry and that makes them easily identifiable. What do you guys think. I should add that since have leaving the place dark and spooky, nothing's been stolen out of my yard.

[Wiz]

Get a dog... One of those little scrappy loud ones.... Leave it outside and replace it as necessary (due to predation, cold weather, burglar takedowns gone bad, etc)

[vcmm]

Motion detector lights.
Make them think your getting up to see whats going on.
That way your both happy.

[Huntnut]

Originally Posted by vcmm

Motion detector lights.
Make them think your getting up to see whats going on.
That way your both happy.

Really really bright ones

[Ken07AOVette]

Originally Posted by vcmm

Motion detector lights.
Make them think your getting up to see whats going on.
That way your both happy.

I agree, plus some good cameras in the mix that they can see

[skoalzie]

Originally Posted by vcmm

Motion detector lights.

Make them think your getting up to see whats going on.

That way your both happy.

Agree with this. I have a solar power led motion light that is extremely bright. I have it on my shed which is about 20 yards from my house. I have the light facing my house, my master bedroom is on that side of the house, the light is bright enough to wake me up in the middle of the night. I am an extremely heavy sleeper and it shocked me that I woke up from it... I believe the light was around $200.

[Artist]

Post a couple of signs that say, "This Premises Protected by Video Surveillance"

That's all you'll need.

[Sooner]

Go Motion lights spaced 50 yrds apart along the driveway, then as someone comes up, they start going off one by one. I would want some kind of lights only for the reason darkness gives them the advantage once they find your place at the end of the driveway.

[vcmm]

And just for fun do something like this heh heh heh
https://youtu.be/I9ZmC-wENmc

[Jayhad]

Originally Posted by Artist

Post a couple of signs that say, "This Premises Protected by Smith & Wesson"

That's all you'll need.

Fixed for you

[Artist]

Originally Posted by Jayhad

Fixed for you

Fixed again...

"This Premises protected by Smith & Wesson two nights a week - you pick which two."

[fishtank]

leave it dark and some rake upside down on the lawn


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WZLJpMOxS4

[dale7637]

I personally think that light of anytime deters most thieves.
But if they are determined, not much will slow them down.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by dale7637

I personally think that light of anytime deters most thieves.
But if they are determined, not much will slow them down.

Well, then wire up a loud siren to the same lights. It will go off simultaneously! Nothing better than a loud siren and bright light!

[RBI]

Originally Posted by vcmm

Motion detector lights.
Make them think your getting up to see whats going on.
That way your both happy.

I'm sure by now the bad guy knows all about the working of a motion sensor light .
He comes snooping through your yard , and a light turns on , he knows that it was highly probable that it was just his motion that turned it on , and chances are the home owners are sleeping right through it .
And if he's quick about it , he can do or grab what he came for , ( with the help of the light ) and be gone before anybody knows .

"I've always thought that if you had a motion sensor out side , that turned one of the lights on , inside the house , it would appear that somebody is awake, and up and active in the house ....dialing the phone , unleashing the hounds , or perhaps loading the second barrel .

I think , that something like that would give far more concern to a bad guy creeping around in your yard ..

Would probably be better yet, if an outside light came on about 30 seconds , or a minute after the inside light .

[nimrod]

If you have motion lights, make sure you install them high where the perp can not unscrew the light bulb then come back later to have it not come on, also, get one of these, I have the first one on the top left, works from about 30 yards a way

https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ay%2Caps%2C204

[Crankbait]

strobe lights in white, super bright and at eye level. strobe bursts 2 per second.

[^v^Tinda wolf^v^]

I am kind of undecided on this one because let's say if your acreage was close to a road way and you had it all lit up. Maybe it would draw them in where they would otherwise keep going ? A secluded acreage however lights would be on at my place that way I could see the target better.

[leeaspell]

I'm on the fence about yard lights. Some people say it scares them off, I think it just makes it easier for them to see what they are stealing. I mean, they're thieves not vampires

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by RBI

I'm sure by now the bad guy knows all about the working of a motion sensor light .
He comes snooping through your yard , and a light turns on , he knows that it was highly probable that it was just his motion that turned it on , and chances are the home owners are sleeping right through it .
And if he's quick about it , he can do or grab what he came for , ( with the help of the light ) and be gone before anybody knows .

"I've always thought that if you had a motion sensor out side , that turned one of the lights on , inside the house , it would appear that somebody is awake, and up and active in the house ....dialing the phone , unleashing the hounds , or perhaps loading the second barrel .

I think , that something like that would give far more concern to a bad guy creeping around in your yard ..

Would probably be better yet, if an outside light came on about 30 seconds , or a minute after the inside light .

Better yet, have a recording of loud dog barking that activates first, then the interior light comes on, followed by the yard lights.

[coachman]

Look up Critter Getter, red flashing light and a siren. Watched a kid trip one at night, his arms went up and he just froze. That and heat activated lights, with a trail cam that send pictures to your phone if you have cell phone. There is nothing that is going to stop a thief, but at least make it hard for them.

[260 Rem]

How about a motion sensor that turns the yard light off when tripped? With a 20 second audio delay of the racking sound of a 12 gauge pump.

[Digger1]

Blacker 'n the inside of a cow at night. And big motion lights and cameras near the house. BTW the mighty mule driveway alarm is working marvelously way out by the road. Only senses metal going by. No animals, leaves or kids.

[Kim473]

A gate sensor that activates an alarm in the house and cameras. And a sign at the gate that reads, These premises are protected, enter at your own risk. Leave it up to the person entering to wonder how they are protected.

[Weedy1]

Originally Posted by Crankbait

strobe lights in white, super bright and at eye level. strobe bursts 2 per second.

and some Donna Summer at level 10.

[josey]

Originally Posted by skoalzie

Agree with this. I have a solar power led motion light that is extremely bright. I have it on my shed which is about 20 yards from my house. I have the light facing my house, my master bedroom is on that side of the house, the light is bright enough to wake me up in the middle of the night. I am an extremely heavy sleeper and it shocked me that I woke up from it... I believe the light was around $200.

What's the brand?

Originally Posted by KGB

Well, then wire up a loud siren to the same lights. It will go off simultaneously! Nothing better than a loud siren and bright light!

Helicopter sounds would work I am sure.

[Jack Hardin]

Originally Posted by dale7637

I personally think that light of anytime deters most thieves.
But if they are determined, not much will slow them down.

You are right Dale. Several years ago when I attended the Crime Prevention Managers Course at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa, it was determined that the average run of the mill thief does not like working in the light and will also avoid places that have dogs or if they suspect that there are dogs on site.

The average B&E artist wants quick, easy and safe pickings

Another tip....if you are walking down a dark street or in an area that is a little rough or, entering or leaving an after hours ATM, always walk with back straight and with confidence like you are a person on a mission. In other words, do not look like a victim.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Best defence is a security system, next is good yard light (rats like to hide in dark), 3rd is a large barking dog, last is just a security system sign. PS a sign with large shot gun " we never call 911" can help.

[wildbill]

Best theft deterrent a 200lbs tosa inu.

[Johnny Huntnfish]

You need this......maybe we'll all have one eventually

https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/22/dr...curity-guards/