Leave the lights on?

[agrumpycow]

I heard a local police blokey interviewed on local radio a couple of days ago regarding the increase in burglaries at this time of year due to darker evenings.

One of his suggestions (and it's not a new one) was to leave lights on when out when it was dark to make it look as though someone was in - not just one light by the way.

If people took notice and did this I would hate to think of the energy used, and wasted in my opinion. What are your thoughts on this?

[Duke of York]

We use an idea that I got from my mum about having lamps on timers so they come on at a set time whether we are in or out so nobody can tell

All our lamps have energy efficient bulbs in so I suppose we are keeping the wastage to a min, but in these days of trying to save energy I'm not sure it would be seen as a popular move but if it saves us from unwelcome guests I think it is worth it

[Ollie]

Suppose it all depends on the area you live in although it's possible to be a victim of burglars wherever you are. Timers are certainly a better idea than leaving the lights on all the time.

I would sooner rely on a good dog. doesn't have to be a big or nasty dog just one that barks at any activity when you are not around.

Roger

[Duke of York]

Originally Posted by Ollie

I would sooner rely on a good dog. doesn't have to be a big or nasty dog just one that barks at any activity when you are not around.

Roger

Well in that case we should be alright we have a Westie who barks not just at any activity but absolutely nothing

But we are lucky to be in a neighbourhood watch area and one of our neighbours is good and keeps a eye out while we are away

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Ollie

I would sooner rely on a good dog. doesn't have to be a big or nasty dog just one that barks at any activity when you are not around.

Roger

That's actually what we do Or two in our case. They're only little but barking together sound a lot bigger than they are.

Interestingly we've had 3 burglaries in our end of the street (10 houses) in the last year or so and each of these households were not dog owners, with 5 of the others not burgled having at least one dog (makes you wonder who's watching the houses .

A timer switch would be a good move and with energy saving bulbs could make it more energy safe. I could just imagine the cumulative effect of many households leaving 2 or more normal light bulbs on all day because it will be dark when they get home.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

That's actually what we do Or two in our case. They're only little but barking together sound a lot bigger than they are.

We have two as well. An Airedale Terrier and a Standard Poodle. Both of them have the complete run of the house when we are out. No problems with dog hairs either as they don't moult. Costs a fortune to have them clipped though
Roger

[pressld2]

If you have one of the timers that plugs into a wall socket and the lamp plugs into the timer then you can use low energy bulbs in the lamp with no problems. That's what I do when we're away from home. If, however, you have the timer built into the light switch itself, as I do for my porch and patio lights, then you can't use low energy bulbs. The timer needs a miniscule current (and I do mean miniscule - about the same as needed to power a digital watch) to flow over the circuit, including the element in the bulb, at all times. Low energy bulbs have no element therefore the timer won't work. I'm amazed that bulb manufactureres still haven't come up with a solution to this. Perhaps there's not enough of us with built in timer switches to make it worth their while.

Dave P.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Ollie

We have two as well. An Airedale Terrier and a Standard Poodle. Both of them have the complete run of the house when we are out. No problems with dog hairs either as they don't moult. Costs a fortune to have them clipped though
Roger

Ours are trained to stay downstairs but I'm not wholly convinced they stick to that when they're on their own
And as for the grooming - £50 every 2 months I even bought my own clippers, clipped them once but now they still go to the groomers while the clippers are used to cut the hubby's hair

[agrumpycow]

I'm not totally convinced that leaving lights on, even with timers, is a particularly effective way of deterring burglaries.
Closing curtains and lights going on and off in different rooms, noise of a TV/radio, etc. are surely more of a sign of occupancy and cannot be replicated without a lot of effort.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

noise of a TV/radio, etc. are surely more of a sign of occupancy and cannot be replicated without a lot of effort.

My living room hi-fi has a timer function so we also have that set to come on automatically while we're away (on radio 4 of course ). But as we're double glazed I'm really not sure how effective it is. If someone broke a window while it was on they might think twice about entering I suppose.

Dave P.

[Susie]

Burglars are quite happy to enter occupied properties, the best thing you can do is to make sure your property has decent security in the first place.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Ours are trained to stay downstairs but I'm not wholly convinced they stick to that when they're on their own
And as for the grooming - £50 every 2 months I even bought my own clippers, clipped them once but now they still go to the groomers while the clippers are used to cut the hubby's hair

Very much like ours. I clipped both ours one day while the wife was at work. Never again, the Poodle looked that bad we were ashamed to walk down the street with it. We found a very good groomer who comes to the house every two months and charges £40 for the two. Of course we bath and groom them ready for her the evening before she is due.
Roger

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Susie

Burglars are quite happy to enter occupied properties, the best thing you can do is to make sure your property has decent security in the first place.

Although the entering of propertys by intruders/burglars does occur it is still far less likely to occur than the entering of empty houses.
You are absolutely spot on with what you say Susie, there is no substitute for thinking about making your property as secure as possible.

Installing basic crime prevention measures can be compared to a hurdle race, if you put enough hurdles in the way of the potential burglar then they are far less likely to even attempt to run the race.

Leaving lights on does work, on timer switches is even better & if you do this consider putting a radio on the timer as well as the combination of light and sound from a property acts as an even greater deterant.
Dogs of course are a superb deterant, but don't restrict them to one room when you go out, give them the run of the house so no matter what window anyone looks through they are faced with a barking, growling dog.
It also goes without saying that you should instal good quality window and door locks, not only on the house but also on your garage & any other outbuildings etc..

One thing to keep in mind is to always take those few minutes to check that your home is secure before leaving to go out and just as importantly before retiring to bed at night, many a burglary has occured because doors or windows were left unsecured. Even if you are upstairs or out in the back garden in the the daytime, pop the lock on the front door and downstairs windows, it only takes a minute or two to do this, roughly about the same time it would take an intruder to enter and grab car keys purses etc.. that are quite often just left on tables, work tops or hanging on hooks behind doors !!

I dont wish to alarm anyone this is just a little food for thought.

[Susie]

Very true, Fourwings.

Buglars are, on the whole, opportunists (unless they know you have something particularly valueable in your property and target you directly). Therefore it makes sense to make your house more secure than those surrounding you.

There is a downside to your house being so secure though, we were locked out recently and then realised that it was nigh on impossible to break back into our house!!

[Jim Ford]

How about leaving a tin or two of dog food in clear view of a window? Maybe also a heavy chain dog lead!

Jim

[Kayleigh]

I got broken into when I lived in Derby I was looking after my mums dog I very large white German Shepherd..I was in bed.
The dog chased them out..Nothing was taken..

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

How about leaving a tin or two of dog food in clear view of a window? Maybe also a heavy chain dog lead!

Jim

Yes Jim, its certainly a good idea.
Of course there is a slight issue about the fact that if the pretend dog does not bark or growl then any likely intruder may percieve that the dog is not in the house and continue what they are doing.

Having said that it is still a good idea and is certainly going to contribute to the overall security of a dwelling.

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I got broken into when I lived in Derby I was looking after my mums dog I very large white German Shepherd..I was in bed.
The dog chased them out..Nothing was taken..

Just goes to show, that dogs are an excellent form of security.
I'd pity the poor devil that tried to enter our house when we were not in, we have two dogs, both of which are quite happy to use their teeth on anyone who comes onto our property when we are not there.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Of course there is a slight issue about the fact that if the pretend dog does not bark or growl then any likely intruder may percieve that the dog is not in the house and continue what they are doing.

It may be more scary for a potential intruder to think that a big dog is silently waiting for them!

Jim

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

I'd pity the poor devil that tried to enter our house when we were not in, we have two dogs, both of which are quite happy to use their teeth on anyone who comes onto our property when we are not there.

There you go potential burglars, give Leicestershire a miss!

Jim

[K9photo]

Originally Posted by Susie

Burglars are quite happy to enter occupied properties, the best thing you can do is to make sure your property has decent security in the first place.

We live on a RAF camp and find the men with guns patrolling the area keep the crime rates down.

[Susie]

Originally Posted by K9photo

We live on a RAF camp and find the men with guns patrolling the area keep the crime rates down.

That'd do the trick!


Fortunately where I live we have a low crime rate anyway.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

Although the entering of propertys by intruders/burglars does occur it is still far less likely to occur than the entering of empty houses.
You are absolutely spot on with what you say Susie, there is no substitute for thinking about making your property as secure as possible.

Installing basic crime prevention measures can be compared to a hurdle race, if you put enough hurdles in the way of the potential burglar then they are far less likely to even attempt to run the race.

Leaving lights on does work, on timer switches is even better & if you do this consider putting a radio on the timer as well as the combination of light and sound from a property acts as an even greater deterant.
Dogs of course are a superb deterant, but don't restrict them to one room when you go out, give them the run of the house so no matter what window anyone looks through they are faced with a barking, growling dog.
It also goes without saying that you should instal good quality window and door locks, not only on the house but also on your garage & any other outbuildings etc..

One thing to keep in mind is to always take those few minutes to check that your home is secure before leaving to go out and just as importantly before retiring to bed at night, many a burglary has occured because doors or windows were left unsecured. Even if you are upstairs or out in the back garden in the the daytime, pop the lock on the front door and downstairs windows, it only takes a minute or two to do this, roughly about the same time it would take an intruder to enter and grab car keys purses etc.. that are quite often just left on tables, work tops or hanging on hooks behind doors !!

I dont wish to alarm anyone this is just a little food for thought.

Someone's been on a course

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Someone's been on a course

Fourwing's is a PCSO

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Fourwings

You are absolutely spot on with what you say Susie, there is no substitute for thinking about making your property as secure as possible.

Installing basic crime prevention measures can be compared to a hurdle race, if you put enough hurdles in the way of the potential burglar then they are far less likely to even attempt to run the race.

But don't be lulled into a false sense of security - if the burglars wish to get in, they will. Sad but true.

henrya