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- From: ataylor@nmsu.edu (Nosy)
- Subject: Home Outdoor Lighting
- Message-ID: <ATAYLOR.92Sep1201030@gauss.nmsu.edu>
- Sender: usenet@nmsu.edu
- Organization: NMSU Computer Science
- Distribution: talk
- Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 03:10:30 GMT
- Lines: 55
-
-
- The issue of "Guns & Ammo" on the news-stands now
- has a very good article on home security with
- an emphasis on the use of lighting to make breakins
- less likely.
-
- Yes, I know, "Guns & Ammo", yuck...what a macho rag.
- Ok, so ask for a brown paper bag....
-
-
- Nevertheless, the article in question has some good stuff.
-
- First of all, the author suggests walking around your
- house *at night* with the interior lights on and just
- looking; what windows are hidden from view to passing
- traffic? A burglar or other housebreaker could lurk
- there undetected, even if a police car were parked
- in front of your house!
-
- Sometimes such "lurking places" can be fixed by
- simply trimming foliage, other case may require
- more modification such as lighting, removing/
- changing fences or removing bushes.
-
- What windows can a casual passerby look in and see
- the interior of your dwelling? It hardly needs
- pointing out that this is a security breach.
- Curtains get worn or torn; replacements are cheap
- peace of mind that people on the street cannot
- see into your living room or bedroom.
-
-
- Are there any doors that are protected from view
- all day? While fences are good, solid fences
- may be making it too easy for an intruder to
- break into your home; chain link keeps dogs/kids
- inside and people out, but can still be seen through.
-
- Motion/heat sensitive lights are now available from
- many of the discount home improvement stores; they
- cost less than $50 and come with instructions for
- installation. Virtually anyone can install such a
- light in a few minutes over a door, if an outlet
- already exists. These lights will come on if anyone
- approaches the door within some distance (some lights
- allow you to set this distance), "spotlighting" an
- intruder and hopefully motivating a retreat.
-
-
- The author claims that one can greatly reduce the chances
- of breakin on an "average house" for $200 or less;
- less than the deductable on most home insurance and
- FAR less than the "cost" of an assault in one's own
- home.
-
-