Don’t leave your home in the dark.
A police chief shares essential lighting tips to deter crime while you’re on vacation.
We tapped the best expert we could think of, Chief Dale Watson fromMount Airy, North Carolina.
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Mount Airy is a small town perhaps most famous for Americas favorite television police officer,Andy Griffith.
The city is Griffiths birthplace and inspired the popular show.
Today, Chief Watson keeps an eye on things and below, offers his advice for home safety.
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
In the words of Chief Watson, “Unpleasant things tend to come out in the darkness.”
Whether thats a raccoon, opossum, or burglar.
To deter nefarious acts and regardless of your homes size, consider addingoutside lightsthat face your residence.
Credit: Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason
Think about it like this: Manual lighting is offensive, while motion-sensor lights are defensive.
By the time your motion sensor goes off, its a last-ditch effort.
That way, you leave the appearance that you have an active, inhabited home.
Credit: PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE
“First and foremost, I definitely want your foyer to be lit up.”
From there, you should light your kitchen areas as well as your powder bath.
“The idea is that you might see each spot from one light source to the next.”
This set-up is more likely to deter any suspicious persons.
Investing in automatic or app-controlled lightbulbs, likePhilips Huesmart lights, innovatively (and easily!)
maintains your lighting while away.
Watson does recommend, however, adjusting the timing here and there.
Change it up from time to time to keep anyone who might be sneaking around on their toes."
Neighborhood Watch
Your best mode of defense is to get to know those who live around you.
“Your neighbors are some of your strongest allies you have in home defense,” Watson says.
Take time to invest in those relationships and get to know them."
Then, you might look out for each other.
