| Fences
Making the thief feel exposed when he approaches the
front of your property can help. Low hedges and low fencing (or
transparent high fences) will increase the feeling, as will outside
lighting.
Most burglars break into a house from the back. Good
rear garden fences or hedges, coupled with a side gate will help protect
your home.
Side gates are best positioned level with the front
of your house so they can be seen.
When choosing the type of fence you should consider
the view neighbours or the public have of the front and rear of your home.
A high fence may be difficult to climb over but can stop people casually
observing your house. A low fence is easy to climb over but enables
everybody to see a burglar.
The type of fence which has a trellis on the top is
difficult to climb over, but does not obstruct visibility.
Lighting
There are several types of external lighting systems.
Floodlights
This type of system uses a sensor which, when it has
detected a person in its range, automatically switches on a light. The
light is usually a high powered floodlight, but may be any type of
lighting unit.
The Quartz Halogen type floodlight coupled to a
Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensor is now very popular, with the prices
falling considerably over the last few years. This type of unit may help
to reduce the fear of crime. If you have to go out to the rear of your
property at night, it's great to be welcomed by a bright light. Be sure
however that it is adjusted not to shine into your neighbours rooms.
The better systems have the sensor in a separate
unit from the light. This enables you to have more than one PIR sensor or
light, linked together in one system.
Low Wattage Lights
Some people prefer external lighting that comes on
automatically at dusk and stays on all night until dawn.
The photocell darkness detector unit can operate any
number or style of light, from ornate coach lights to practical bulkhead
lamps.
If low wattage economy bulbs are used these can cost
less than 1p per night in electricity.
Siting of these lights is important to ensure that
dark shadowed areas are not created. Unlit areas can provide a hiding
place for a thief or instill a fear that someone could be hiding there.
Control Units
These units are either electronic with a digital
display, or resemble a normal clock face. They allow you to automatically
switch outside lights on or off at any given time.
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