(Moved from the PlaniTulsa discussion on street lighting)
Ha! I didn't listen to Patrick about outdoor lights. Silly me. Friday
night a young couple parked their car in front of the home next to me
and proceeded up the steps to my front porch where they commenced taking
all the Halloween decorations my lovely wife had smartly arranged. This
was about 8:00pm. I had left the front porch light on, the car port
light on and of course my motion detector floods activated.
That made it very easy for them to see what they wanted. Unfortunately
for them, I was at my desk using the laptop and I saw them clearly
through the partly open blinds. They looked in the front door but
neglected to seem me in the office.
So, I jumped up and chased them off the porch. Tackled the young man
while his girlfriend jumped in her car and tried to leave. By the time
we hit the street he had lost his hat and glasses and started making
lame excuses for their behavior.
I had the jump on him but let him go. His girlfriend came back to get
him. He returned twice more and once attempted to engage me in
fisticuffs. Even though I had a couple snorts of a very fine Vodka, he
knew he had imbibed even more and wasn't up for it. I gave the hat and
glasses to the cop who responded.
Sooooo, now I keep the lights off and depend on the motion detector to
tip me off. It lights the yard but not the house. Even old farts learn
eventually.
WB, I think you got a couple who evolved from the shallow end of the
gene pool. I still think a porch light is a great deterrent to
most potential thieves or vandals. Given a choice I personally
believe most burglars would prefer to have as little light to be
identified by as possible.
I know this will probably make Patric pass out but I have two (front and
back) mercury vapor lamps that shine like the sun in my yard. Turned on
at night; have a photosensor to turn them off during the day. I prefer
safety.
Conan, I agree a modest porch light serves a useful purpose under most
circumstances, if installed correctly.
Waterboy's case was an exception because, as he noted, it made goods
easier to spot from the street, creating an opportunity.
By "modest porch light", I would be suggesting a lower lamp wattage just
bright enough to be able to safely navigate the porch, steps, furniture,
and be shielded in a way that it doesnt cast glare as you approach, or
shine in/on your (or your neighbors) windows. Less is better here.
If a motion-detector light accomplishes the same goal, that's worth
considering (You can even buy porch lights that brighten as they sense
motion).
The reason you would not want to over-light your porch or entrance is that your eyes
will adjust to the brighter foreground, and everything beyond that will
appear darker -- which some people mistakenly try to "fix" with an even
brighter porch light, only making the problem worse for themselves and
their neighbors.
That's part of the flaw in Hoss's setup with the Mercury Vapor lights
that "shine like the sun" in his yard, and likely his neighbors yard and
windows. The neighbors may be too polite to say anything, and just use
thick drapes or blinds to deal with the problem. Unfortunately that
solution eliminates those neighbors as "friendly eyes" that could have
otherwise observed any suspicious activity on Hoss's property, as does
the blinding glare of the unshielded fixtures make it harder for
passersby and police to see anything amiss. Look at all the cars that
are vandalized in glaringly-bright car dealership parking lots, or the
air conditioners stolen under bright floodlights at schools; all lit up
and no one looking but the bad guys.
On a broader scope, Mercury Vapor "farm lights" are out of scale with
residential neighborhoods, their presence implying "high crime area" and
possibly reducing property values.
"Farm Lights" wouldnt have helped in Waterboy's case, either.
The bottom line on any sort of lighting intended for security
is that lighting alone isnt a deterrent, but rather the expectation that
being more visible will contribute to detection.The most massive light you can install wont repel evil, unless there is
someone nearby who is able to make use of that light to detect a
problem. The key then is to arrange lighting to optimize human vision
-- to make it easier for you and your neighbors to be able to look out
your windows and see any activity. You do that by eliminating glare and
maintaining a brightness that supplements -- not overwhelms -- the area.
Motion detector lights are still a good tactic, not so much to "fool"
bad guys but to upset their confidence of not being detected with the
abrupt addition of light. A light coming on also attracts the attention
of those "friendly eyes" who might then notice more details, such as a
strange vehicle or someone near a door. Some motion detectors can send
signals through house wiring to sound chimes or turn on other lights.
If you do use motion detectors, adjust them so they dont cast glare at
potential witnesses (or you) and that the detector isnt cranked up to go
off with every passing car or dog.
Back to Waterboy's Haloween decorations...
Holidays are times when we decorate with lights, and those
decorations are vulnerable to mischief, so the game changes slightly.
Had the decorations been on the lawn with a floodlight, it would have
probably been the same. The only recourse would be vigilance, and some
good neighbors.