Better to have your house dark or a small light on at night?

[Dan20703]

I have the motion sensor lights on front and back doors along with a dual channel K-9 alarm system. As a backup I also have the standard home alarm system to the local PD. If they sneak past all of that I'm in deep trouble because they are a ghost!

[Beiruty]

I trust the K9 System espacially those German big nasty ones. I even had a small one, a little lady that used to grab my Dad's pigeons in mid-air.

[steveincowtown]

In my home one common hallway leads to three rooms, I have a motion detector socket in the over head light.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CEYQ8wIwAg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If a BG makes it past the ADT and the D O G, we will have a light cast on him from above, and fire and brimstone from below. I keep a tactical light with my weapon, but it is there mainly if I need to see something going in the yard. If I do light something up in the yard (which is typically a stray cat, raccoon, or something) and I don’t have my weapon drawn, I do so from an offset position. For example I might stand in front of left panel of a window of a dual window and extend my arm to the right and shine through the right panel. This way, if there is something there, and they shoot, it is directly at my light, and not directly at me (in theory…hope is never happens).

[cougartex]

Inside, I have one small lamp and several night lights on. Outside, my neighbor and I have security lights that light up both of our houses.

[troglodyte]

I like light, but not so much to be a pain to the neighbors.

Motion lights outside that cover front and back of house. Auto on-off LED night lights in a couple of outlets in the house gently light the interior (along with all the idiot lights on tvs, computers, and other electronics).

[MoJo]

That's why I have a multi channel K9 alarm system. If the dogs start rasing heck I go to see what the commotion is about.

I looked and can't find the website for "K9 Multi-Channel Alarm Systems." Can you provide a link?

They are available at your local animal shelter.

[Matt78665]

Not too long ago I had an alarm salesman come to my door. (despite my no solicitation sign) He ask "did I have an alarm system"? I said "yes I have the Rover-Lert quadra main system with the Glock sub-system as a backup." I thought it was pretty clever, but I hate when I have to explain my jokes. ie. 4 large dogs and several Glocks.

[Excaliber]

For purposes of an intruder. Is it better to have lights on in your house or pitch black so that the use of a tactical flashlight might blind an intruder?

Real dark where you are and real light where he could be expected to approach from is a real good combination.

The other way around.....not so much.

[Excaliber]

For purposes of an intruder. Is it better to have lights on in your house or pitch black so that the use of a tactical flashlight might blind an intruder?

Real dark where you are and real light where intruders could be expected to approach from is a real good combination.

The other way around.....not so much.

Motion activated high intensity exterior lights, high grade locks, a well designed electronic alarm system, and a very large, well fed and light sleeping K-9 alarm system helps ensure I'll have the 20 seconds or so I need to set up a proper welcome party if uninvited folks decide to make forcible entry in the middle of the night.

Inside I favor using small LED night lights throughout the house (except in the bedroom) that put out just enough light to allow me to walk around without bumping into things. The same light level is just right for detecting and positively identifying a target. If I have to engage, I won't be moving around or using a flashlight to give away my position. Tritium night sights are great for guiding rounds where they need to go under low light conditions.

[pcgizzmo]

Good info. Thanks guys..

[psijac]

Get a large tree???

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[OldCannon]

Get a large tree???

http://actrees.org/site/resources/resea ... d_oreg.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great. First I was worried about calibers. Now I'm worried about calipers.


What? Cmon, that was funny...don't look at me like that

[Scott in Houston]

Not too long ago I had an alarm salesman come to my door. (despite my no solicitation sign) He ask "did I have an alarm system"? I said "yes I have the Rover-Lert quadra main system with the Glock sub-system as a backup." I thought it was pretty clever, but I hate when I have to explain my jokes. ie. 4 large dogs and several Glocks.

Funny answer. :)

BTW, these "alarm salesmen" are often not salesmen at all. That's a pretty common scouting technique.
I have an alarm, but if I didn't, my answer would always be "yes" whether I had dogs or not. When the owner is away, canines aren't that big of an obstacle if you know what to expect, and knowing you're a gun owner, may make the house a bigger target.

[C-dub]

Instead of a "No Soliciting" or "No Trespassing" sign how about one that says, "Come on in. We'll have a few laughs. Yippee Kiyay!" How do you spell that anyway?

[seamusTX]

Trespass and burglary can occur only without consent of the owner. Putting up a "welcome in" sign removes that element.

I had a minor trespassing problem some years ago, and the cops told me I needed to put up "no trespassing" or "keep out" signs. The prosecutors here will not take a case where the property is not posted. (Curiously, the signs are required only in English.)

- Jim