Do Porch Lights Actually Prevent Burglaries?

When you think of a burglar, who comes to mind? Perhaps the stereotypical figure in dark clothes with a mask and a sack of stolen goods. Or maybe the bumbling duo from the "Home Alone" films, monitoring a suburban neighborhood to figure out when families are on holiday.

The truth about burglaries and burglars is quite different from what many assume. For one, FBI data reveals that most home break-ins occur during daylight hours, not under the cover of night. Moreover, interviews with convicted burglars show that only a third of break-ins are premeditated.

Instead of being seasoned criminals, most burglars are young teenagers looking to quickly snatch something valuable and make a swift getaway, according to Marcus Felson, a criminal justice professor at Texas State University and an expert on criminal behavior.

"Burglaries happen fast, often completed in under five minutes, sometimes even within a minute," says Felson. "In many cases, the door isn't even locked. They rush in, quickly search for valuables, and leave just as fast."

By gaining a deeper understanding of when, why, and how home burglaries occur, homeowners can develop better methods for preventing them. This brings us to the main question: do porch or house lights actually deter burglars?

Felson believes that lights can play a role in home security, but simply having lights on won’t stop a break-in. For instance, motion-sensor lights at the front and back of your home can startle a burglar, but only if positioned correctly to shine on their face. If the light is pointed at a neighbor’s house, the burglar remains unseen in the glare.

How about timed interior lighting? Modern home automation systems make it easier than ever to schedule and control your indoor lights while you're away. With products like Philips Hue, you can use your smartphone to set your living room, kitchen, and bedroom lights to simulate your presence at home.

While automated lighting may create the illusion of someone being home, particularly at night when lights are visible from the street, burglars know to spot other, more obvious signs that you’re away during the day. Interviews with convicted burglars in Australia and the U.K. (from a study) reveal that opportunistic criminals look for signs like uncollected mail, newspapers, packages on the porch, and vacant driveways and garages.

An Oregon news team that surveyed convicted burglars found that all of them would knock on the front door before attempting a break-in. Unless you have a smart doorbell camera, those interior lights won’t help much.

The Most Effective Burglar Deterrent

Felson’s top recommendation for securing your home: get to know your neighbors. No amount of automated lights will stop a burglar if no one calls the police when they notice suspicious activity. (In an Australian study, only 22.8% of burglars were deterred by sensor lights and 19.3% by "lights inside the house.") Your neighbors need to be familiar enough with you and your family to recognize a stranger trying to break in.

Felson suggests introducing yourself to the neighbors on all sides of your house, especially those behind you, since burglars are more likely to enter through back doors or windows. He also recommends trimming hedges around doors and windows so your neighbors have a clear view of your property — they can’t report what they can’t see.

Given that most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when many are at work, your strongest defense against burglary are neighbors who are home during the day.

"Retirees are key to preventing crime in neighborhoods," says Felson, "but people who work from home also play a vital role."

These neighbors can help by collecting your mail and packages while you're away or even parking their car in your driveway to create the illusion someone is home.

While exterior and interior lighting can be part of a comprehensive security strategy that also includes solid locks on doors and windows and keeping valuables out of sight, lights alone aren't enough. And don’t forget the No. 1 deterrent according to burglars themselves: a dog. A barking dog will draw more attention to an intruder than any alarm system.