Security Lighting Information

Proper lighting both indoors and out is an important part of a home security plan. Dark nooks around the house can allow would-be burglars to hide in the shadows as they sneak up on the premises. Downstairs windows and doors, garage entrances, and sliding glass doors are particularly vulnerable spots and should be well-lit at night. Also, ensure the keyholes to the front and back doors are lit.

As a further deterrent to thieves, you may want to employ automatic lights, or timer lights, that come on even when there is no one home. This gives the impression that someone is home, and most burglars won't want to risk trying to enter such a house. They prefer the easy mark. Gentle, low lighting that doesn't reveal too much of what's inside, but suggests the homeowner may be reading in a chair or some such, is a good choice.

Heat or motion sensing lights are a good choice for outdoor lights. Motion-sensors will turn on the lights when any movement is detected within range of the sensor. This can be a pain if a wind blows a tree branch into range, and the light turns off and on all night. Also if there are a lot of animals in the neighborhood, they can set off the lights. This is why heat-sensing lights are sometime preferred. These only light up when heat (specifically human body temperature heat) is detected. You can also get infrared lights to monitor protected areas. You can program these to sound an alarm if someone enters the specified area.

Security Lighting:
FloodCam Starter Kit
Outdoor Motion Monitor with Floodlight

Information Source: The Personal Security Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Home and Family