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 well as 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 of 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 neighbour’s 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 instil 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.
