Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

When you are out of town, is your home dark or do you have lights that turn on? Recently there was a burglary in the neighbourhood while people were home. It wasn't too close to my house but want to do everything we can to discourage intruders. Our out door wall sconces by the garage and lamp post don't automatically turn on when it gets dark outside. We do have walk way lights that are programmed to go on at night but few of them aren't working and we need to call someone about those. We put in dawn to dusk adapters in the lamp post and garage sconces. For inside,what do you use? Bought a programmable thing to plug in but want to see what others do. In the past when we're out of town, we would leave one light on inside but the outside lights were switched off.

Also, what type of light bulbs/wattage do you use for outdoors? I don't want to buy very expensive ones and bought the Philips 60w LED bulbs. With the dawntodusk adaptor thing, the lights won't turn off when it's not sunny so sometimes in the winter, they will stay on during the day too.

Eta- We turn on the security alarm at night and also when away but would rather not get a call from the alarm company if someone tries to break in while on vacation and have our vacation ruined. Having someone break in when we are home is actually scarier.

Message edited 11/15/2016 1:18:18 AM.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

If we are away, I have timers on my indoor lamps throughout the house. As far as my outside , we have lighting that goes off when it gets light out. I keep my porch lights on all the time.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

I have a timer for inside, and outside I have a combination of timed lights, and photosensor lights. I also have a street light that keeps the front yard lit enough that you can see things, but not so much that it bothers us in the house.
I also have motion-sensor lights for the side yard.

While these are "security" measures, I don't feel like I'm paranoid because they are also all convenience measures as well. It makes it easier for me having the lights outside turn on and off automatically every day, and having the side yard lights turn on when I walk over there.

Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

We use timers for indoor lights and just leave the outside lights on - not my favorite thing, but our outdoor lights do not come on automatically at dusk

Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

i just leave my lights on when we are away. Outside ones and then one interior. Never really gave much more thought to it.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

We have an inside light and our porch light on a timer. Our driveway lights go on when it's dark outside. When we're away, our house alarm is on and we also leave the kitchen light on.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

I actually feel that leaving interior lights on is a sign that no one is home. If someone notices that the interior lights are constantly on for days, that person may surmise that no one is home.

Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

Thanks everyone.

oldtimerocknroll- I agree. I did this once before but don't do it anymore for the same reason you said.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights

Timers in 3 rooms that go on and stay on much of the night and I had a timer installed on my front porch light switch, which turns on at dark and off in the am. Dusk to daylight sensors work great in the right type of fixtures. I got the indoor timers at Home Depot.I also had sensors installed on all my outdoor lights, so they detect motion.

Re: Home security while away-outdoor/indoor lights