It seems like a no-brainer to leave the lights on outside your home to deter burglars while you鈥檙e away (or even while you鈥檙e asleep). But does that really work? Or is it just a waste of electricity 鈥� particularly this time of year, when the days are short?
Those answers can differ depending on a number of factors. However, one thing is clear: With more than 1.1 million residential burglaries in the U.S. in 2019, according to the FBI鈥檚 Crime in the United States report, it takes more than flipping a switch to prevent property crime.
So, if you are relying on lights as part of your home security routine, be sure to put some thought into how you鈥檙e using them. Here are recommendations about when to light things up 鈥� and some instan