Security Lighting
Does security lighting actually deter break-ins?
Research on outdoor lighting and burglary is mixed - here is what a New York City study and a survey of convicted burglars actually found.
Steady, well-placed outdoor light is linked to less crime at night. That is what the best research says. But no study says light alone stops a break-in at your house. A big study looked at New York City public housing. It found less nighttime crime once lights went up. A survey of convicted burglars found something else. A camera, an alarm, or signs someone is home. All of those mattered more. Lighting mattered less.
Why Consistent Light Matters More Than a Single Floodlight
The strongest proof comes from one study. It was in New York City. Researchers gave some public housing sites short-term street lights. Other sites got none. They tracked crime for several months. It first came out as a working paper. It came from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Later, it ran in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. Crime fell at the lit sites. It fell by at least 36 percent at night. Arrests dropped too. They called it real deterrence. Crime did not just move to the next dark block.
Older research found something different. A 1977 U.S. Department of Justice review looked at 60 street lighting projects. It found no real drop in crime. That held once crime moving elsewhere was factored in. Experts see the newer New York study as stronger proof. It was better designed. One reason may be how the light was used. There is a framework for this. It is called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED. It guides many experts and police. CPTED says light only helps under one condition. It must be even and steady across an area. A bright spot next to deep shadow. That can be worse than no light. It gives someone a shadow to hide in. Right next to the light.
That is the real case for lighting your whole roofline. Not just one fixture. Even, steady light across your home's front works better. It beats one bright spotlight ringed in shadow.
Scheduled vs On-Demand Security Lighting
Most homes use one motion-light. Or they leave a porch light on all night. Both light up just a small area. The rest of the property stays dark. A zoned system covers your whole roofline instead. It can run bright white light every evening. All on a schedule. Or you can trigger it from the app. Even while you are out of town. Or both. That gives broad, even light across your whole house front. Not one bright cone on the driveway. See our security lighting page for more. It fits right into Apollo's permanent system.
Scheduling also fixes a real problem with motion sensors. A motion light waits until someone is close. Then it turns on. A scheduled light stays on. Every night. The whole time your home could be a target.
Pairing Light With Existing Security Cameras
Light works best as one part of a bigger plan. It is not a guarantee on its own. A well-known study asked hundreds of convicted burglars how they picked targets. It came from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Cameras and alarms were what stopped burglars most. Most said they would check for an alarm first. Most said they would skip a house if they saw one. Outdoor lighting mattered too. But less than those more visible signs.
That does not mean lighting is useless. The New York City study shows this. It does cut crime overall. It just works best paired with other visible signs. Think cameras or an alarm. Not used alone. Say you have cameras or an alarm. Good lighting makes both work better. Cameras catch clearer footage at night. Neighbors and passersby can actually see what is going on.
Setting Up a Security Scene in the App
Apollo's permanent system makes a security scene simple to build. It is bright white light across your zoned roofline. Set it on a nightly schedule. Or trigger it from the app any time, home or away. The same system runs your holiday, accent, and game day looks too. So switching to it takes one tap, not a new install.
Say you have cameras, or plan to get them. Match your light schedule to your camera's view. That keeps the areas your cameras watch well-lit. Every night. Learn more on our how installation works page. Or request a free quote. See what that looks like for your home.
FAQ
Does outdoor lighting actually stop burglars?
The research is mixed. A large study looked at New York City public housing. It found real drops in nighttime crime after lights went up. But a survey of convicted burglars found something else. Lighting mattered less than a visible camera or alarm. Lighting seems to help. But no study shows it stops a break-in on its own.
What does research say about street lighting and crime?
One study added short-term street lights. The place was New York City public housing. It found at least a 36 percent drop in nighttime outdoor crime. It came out as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. Then it ran in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. Arrests dropped too. Researchers said that showed real deterrence, not crime just moving elsewhere.
Is lighting as effective as a security camera?
One survey asked convicted burglars how they picked targets. It came from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Cameras and alarms swayed more of their choices than lighting did. Lighting still matters. But it works best paired with cameras or an alarm. Not used alone.
Should security lighting run on a schedule or a motion sensor?
Both have a role. A scheduled, zoned system across your full roofline gives broader coverage. It is steadier than one motion floodlight. That kind only reacts once someone is near your house. Apollo's app lets you run this scene on a nightly schedule. Or trigger it on demand.
Can I control security lighting remotely?
Yes. Apollo's app lets you trigger your security scene from anywhere. You can also set a nightly schedule. Your home stays lit whether you are there or traveling.
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