Among people who know about security and criminal behavior, there is simply no argument about the fact that a comprehensive security system is a deterrent to crime and a critical part of personal safety. It is always advisable to carefully review your security measures on a periodic basis to look for weak points and areas that need additional fortification.
While a burglar alarm is effective in notifying the police and company officials of an attempt to break in, though, your business security system should also include some very simple, common sense items that are inexpensive and quite effective. Security lights and motion sensing lights can have a large deterrent effect and even dissuade a criminal from trying to enter in the first place. Here are three tips for improving security with exterior lighting:
1. Lighting improves safety – Steady-burn security lights should be mounted in entry areas and in the parking lot. Not only does this increase your employees’ safety from personal attack, it will help avert the likelihood of slip-and-fall injuries in wet or slippery conditions.
2. Utilize motion sensor lights for deterrence – In other areas that are less traveled, or during hours when the premises are unoccupied, motion sensing lights can be employed to measure movement within the location that is being scanned. When the sensor is active, it will detect any motion that is present and automatically activate lights or even set off the burglar alarm. Modern motion sensor lights use more sophisticated technology that in days gone by, they are much less likely to be fooled by small to medium sized animals, ensuring that you are not inconvenienced by false positives.
3. Plan out mounting locations ahead of time – As long as you’re making the investment, it makes sense to carefully map out the areas that need the most illumination to avoid shadows and dark areas. In the case of motion sensor lights, mount them in a location that gives them maximum scanning capability. Depending on the layout of your property, improper mounting could result in a very narrow field of view for the electric “eye,” so carefully examine which direction makes the most sense. You want the widest angle of detection from the most likely sources of entry or movement. Because some motion detectors are – in part – triggered by heat, it is important to avoid facing them toward heat sources, such as generators or chimneys.
Businesses that utilize effective lighting help thwart personal crimes as well as reducing the likelihood that the premises will be broken into while unoccupied. Not only will this help you sleep better at night, it will make your employees feel safer when entering or exiting the office.