Lighten up

[papia]

Leave your outside lights on at night. If your street lights are dimly lit, add streetlights or replace existing bulbs with higher watt bulbs. Leave one or two lamps on inside your house when you are not at home, as they will indicate that someone is present in your house.

[juol]

That is a very good advise, I've been doing that for years now. Not only will it deter burglars, but it can also make the outside of your home safer for neighbors.

[Calypso]

Excellent advice, but I have to share a funny/gross story. My front door is right out in the open, but I have a porch area that's hidden by trees. I keep the porch brightly lighted to discourage burglars, but one night one of my neighbors was having a party, and a drunk party guest wandered over to my porch around midnight and started unzipping his jeans like he was ready to take a pee--in the full light of the porchlight, of course. I knocked on the window and waved to him. He was so embarrassed, he almost fell over backward. I don't know where he ended up relieving himself, but it certainly wasn't on my porch!

[vicki2]

That's pretty funny!

Also, buying timers for indoor and outdoor lights is a good thing to do. When you are away, set them to match your regular times for bed, etc. and it makes people think someone is at home.

[ss1129]

I would recommend timers for your lights when you are not home, you know like the ones you use for your christmas lights outside. That way they turn on and off at different times. Looks more realistic.

[tater03]

I always leave a light on when I am not home. I actually do it even when I am home. That story is so funny. I bet that guy just about died. I would have.

[vicki2]

I'm not big on the new energy saving light bulbs...you know, the curled ones ...but have put them into the lamps that I tend to leave on all the time. The light isn't great from them, but it does save money.