With daylight savings time over, evenings are suddenly darker, quicker – just in time for us to fill our homes with gifts for the holiday period. It's a small seasonal shift that potential burglars often take advantage of.
That's why experts recommend a simple yet effective fix: A TV mimic light from Amazon. For less than $20, you can make it look like someone's home whenever you are working late or out on winter vacation.
Here, they explain why it is one of the best affordable home security tips, and how to use one effectively to deter burglars this winter.
This $20 Gadget Helps Secure Your Home on Dark Nights
This energy-efficient light simulates the changing light patterns of a TV, making it look, from the outside, as if someone is sitting comfortably at home. Simply pair with an outlet timer, also from Amazon, for realistic schedules that mimic a home presence.
When picking the best security measures for a house, lighting ideas likely don't rank high on your list. However, according to Jeff Wenninger, founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, explains that visual cues like lighting can make 'all the difference' in dissuading a potential burglar.
'Anything that creates the perception that someone is home deters property crime. Lights that mimic the glow and movement of a television are particularly effective because they signal human activity. When placed on a smart plug [available for less than $10 at Walmart] or positioned upstairs, where no one can see the source, they create the illusion of someone going about their evening.
'It’s the same basic principle as the classic Home Alone scene where Kevin McCallister choreographs a fake party to trick burglars into thinking the house is full,' Jeff points out. 'It’s about manufacturing normalcy.'
The trick, he adds, is to pair a TV mimic light with other smart home must-haves, whether or not you have the best home security system or are trying to secure your home without a security system.
As you should not leave lights on when you go on vacation, Jeff suggests using smart lighting to help mimic presence at home. My prized Philips Hue Bulbs, from Amazon, for example, come with a mimic setting that replicates a typical usage pattern, differing from the activation and turn-off times every night to make it look like people inside my home are moving between rooms and getting ready for bed.
A more affordable option is to set up your existing lighting on smart plugs, such as the Alexa smart plugs, available at Amazon. With these, I set slightly different times in routines for each night I am not at home, so burglars will find it harder to spot patterns of behavior.
Jeff also suggests investing in garden security lighting with motion sensors to help deter burglars who may approach your home.
'Even simple background noise like a radio on a talk station can help,' he adds. 'During the winter and holiday season, when many homes sit empty for extended periods, these details can be the difference between being targeted or passed over. The goal isn’t to make your home look fortified; it’s to make it look lived in.'
Home Security Essentials
This energy-efficient light simulates the changing light patterns of a TV, making it look, from the outside, as if someone is sitting comfortably at home.
I love using smart plugs to help automate basic home tasks such as controlling lighting for an added layer of home security. It also makes it a lot easier to switch on lighting and space heaters when I am cozy on the couch on cold, dark winter nights.
These convenient outlet timers can turn existing lamps on and off on a set schedule, idea for homes where you are only away at night every so often.
These outdoor motion sensor lights can help to deter potential burglars by bathing the exterior of your home in bright light, making it harder to use dark nights and shadows to hide their actions.
Adding sound to your home can also help to deter burglars. This solar charged radio can be set up in an upstairs window so that it doesn't add to your energy bills while you are away.
The Philips Hue Bulbs are some of the priciest on the market, but their lighting and security ecosystem is one of my favorites. The smart bulbs can be controlled from anywhere, with a built-in mimic setting for vacations. They pair seamlessly with an app for quick control at your finger tips, and work with smart home assistants such as Alexa, too.
Meet the Expert
With your belongings secured, it’s time to protect your home from damage by setting your thermostat to the ideal temperature before your winter vacation, preventing burst pipes and flooding when you return.
