got broken into... again!

[Hoss]

Hopefully you have them in fixtures that keep the light confined to your property.

Both my next door neighbors have them, so that's not an issue.  As a matter of fact, I put one of them up after they asked me to.

[Conan71]

Hopefully you have them in fixtures that keep the light confined to your property.

No, Nathan.  I aim them directly at my neighbor's bedroom windows.

[nathanm]

No, Nathan.  I aim them directly at my neighbor's bedroom windows.

I've seen a few in my neighborhood that do shine directly in neighbor's bedroom windows, hence my question. It's not that they are aimed there, just that the farm-style fixture has no directionality whatsoever.

[waterboy]

I use simple motion detector spots placed at the peak of my front roof and in front of garage doors. They work well and don't seem to offend.

My neighbors leave there front porch lights on. In the past burglars have simply walked up, unscrewed the light bulb and did their business.

[nathanm]

I use simple motion detector spots placed at the peak of my front roof and in front of garage doors. They work well and don't seem to offend.

Less than others. What I hate is when people who have those sorts of things have them positions such that if you walk by on the edge of the street they go off and blind you. As a pedestrian, I much prefer to have my night vision as intact as possible so I can see into the shadows.

[custosnox]

I use simple motion detector spots placed at the peak of my front roof and in front of garage doors. They work well and don't seem to offend.

My neighbors leave there front porch lights on. In the past burglars have simply walked up, unscrewed the light bulb and did their business.

We installed a motion detector on the porch light.  Makes a good effect.

[patric]

A porch light that is recessed (i.e, "can light") is harder to tamper with, easier on the eyes and more strategic when illuminating entrances.  Less is better when it comes to brightness in these instances, as you dont want to create a hot spot that makes it harder for the eye to adapt to the darker areas around it.

We installed a motion detector on the porch light.  Makes a good effect.

Some people like ambiance at night, using a sedate light for background light and a brighter, more task-oriented light on-demand when navigating stairs or other outdoor activity.  Dimmer switches arent just for dining rooms anymore.
Heath-Zenith makes some very cool 2-level motion detectors that keep a light at a low level then ramp up to full brightness when motion is detected. 

You can also buy just the sensor if you want to use your existing fixtures. About $15.
People also underestimate the value of low voltage lighting around shrubs and perimeters to deny hiding places.

That's what I do.  And a mercury vapor lamp on the apex of my roof in the front and back yard

...which casts deep, dark shadows the bad guys can work/hide in (see photo below).

Your neighbors across the street wont be of any help in this instance.  Assuming they havent already responded with thick curtains, they wouldnt be able to see past the glare of the light to make out any detail on your property.

Farm lights are an abomination
   
and shouldnt be used in residential areas.  They are out-of-scale and lack the optical control necessary to protect your neighbors from "light trespass". 
That and they scream "crime area"!.

If your security model is dependent on observant neighbors or police, that's something to consider.   

Regardless of how you do it, it's really to your benefit to keep your light out of your neighbor's eyes.

[sauerkraut]

I like those Mercury Vapor Lights, I still favor bars on the windows sure it may scream "high crime" but you have to do what needs to be done.

[sauerkraut]

My neighbors and I are very close, and well armed.  We do a pretty good job of watching each others property for things that are strange, garage doors left open, and the like.  Several houses in my area are retired person or stay-at-home moms.  A couple others are college kids or other people that are up late.  So between them we have lots of activity.

Not that it will prevent any crime, but back to the old "find an easier target" thing.

That's about the best you can do. A mean dog also can help but the dog has to be cared for when your away at work. Things start to happen when your away at work all day that's the time the bad guys get to work. Neighbors are the first line of defense.

[Hometown]

Have burglaries by professional burglars been a problem here?  They dress as service people and use a van with a business logo.  They make daylight burglaries in full view.  People think the neighbors are getting their house painted or some other service provided and no one questions the van in the neighbor's driveway.

[mkfarnam]

we have a neighborhood watch...

i have lights on and motion lights... when they come on my backyard looks like stalag 17...

two dogs... big 80 and 90 pounds... inside sleeping... they get up if you even park on our block and go apeshyte if you come anywhere near the house... plus, one is a bit of a biter...  but if you come over the back fence silently?...

i thought about the camera but what good would it do? the cops did'nt want the tool they broke in with or any of the prints all over the TV... (i understand the lab costs keep them from being able to do prints)... but would they really do anything different if i had a video of the thief?

a rose bush in the back corner is not a bad idea...

i really just want to put concertina wire along my back fence...

Then it would look like the Calif,/Mex. border.

[carltonplace]

And all you need is a piece of carpet to get over it.

[sauerkraut]

I'm no fan of cameras. Half the time you can't make anything out anyhow on camera, stores and banks have cameras and they still get robbed. Camera don't prevent nothing. The cops don't even want to watch it, and all the cameras do is show you how they did it (if it's in view of a camera that is) Window bars really are the best way to prevent a break-in unless they know you have something inside that they really want and they will get in one way or another.

[sauerkraut]

BTW did you hear that a while ago the Best Buy Store got busted into by pros, it was the one near I-44 and Yale, they cut a hole in the roof and even broke thru the block wall. The camera's tapes were missing. Cops think it was someone who once may have worked at the stores since they knew where the camera recorders were and they knew stores layout, a few other stores also got hit. This was 1-2 years ago.

[izmophonik]

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Tulsa-police-say-serial-burglars-arrested/GpB_Sffw0EeUD8evGq04pg.cspx

Looks like some busy thieves were busted.  According to the story they were hitting 15 cars a day.  I'm calling the detectives to see if my stuff was in their house.