Of late everyone in The Netherlands got a letter from government about a potential emergency situation, the need for having an emergency kit with food & candles and so on.

Right now big question I'm stuck with and would like your view on...

I got a real bright solar light at the back, one above the front-door and a new bright one that I have yet to put up.
It was meant for the driveway area in front of my garage as that area is quite dark.
All are set to go on when there's motion and off after 30 seconds.

But now I'm thinking...
Does having outdoor lights on attract hooligans and/or burglars and/or looters?
After all it does make it easier for them to see?
It's something I've been wondering about for some years.
Police says a well lit up house keeps burglars away, but would this really be true?

My girlie has the same thoughts and switches outdoor lights off at night for the same reason.
Like at my back door, because of the bright solar light, potential burglars can easily work to get inside with full light.
And no one will see them there, perfectly hidden from sight with good light to 'work'.

What is the smart thing to do? Certainly if there was to be a blackout as then it'll be pitch-black outside and a house with outdoor solar lights will stand out like a sore thumb.

I do not live in the sticks, but not in a town/city either. A village that's normally relatively safe, some 1500 people.

And if it would be a good thing, then maybe I should set them to burn non-stop, not just when there's motion? Although solar will burn out faster that way, certainly now during the gloomy winter days.

What do you guys think?

It think you should take the advice from your local police as they are the ones that answer the trespassing calls.

And I think it makes sense to use the light when it is dark out to deter the bad guys ;-)

I would keep them as motion lights.. So if anything is moving around in the dark they will come on and most likely scare them away..

I have always heard it is good to leave a light on in the house at times changing which light is on.. Just to make one think someone is home..

Well plus if you get up in the dark you can see. I actually keep a dim light on in my bathroom so I can see when I have to get up in the middle of the night... As well as a lamp in my living room..

Normally well lite areas are where most burglary's don't want to go.... Plus you could put up camera's so you can keep and eye on your property...

Thank you, ladies!
I will get the Makita out one of these days and put the new light up on the garage so there's light there too :)

And yes, I'll keep it set to motion only, otherwise there isn't going to be much juice in them now it's winter.
And since it's a really bright light that shines for at least 15 meters it'll be quite the shock if it switches on out of the blue.

That area in front of the garage can be really dark. There are no houses next to me on that side either.
Once the street light across the street from me was broken. During that time the driveway was pitch black. There could've been 20 people standing there, I would not be able to see them.
Would be the same during a power outage.

I'll better get that light up soon!

Motion detector lights are nice to know if there is movement outside. It might be just a stray dog but it will at least tell you something is moving outside while you are in the house.

If someone is going to rob a house during a blackout, I would think they would go to the house with all the lights out so they figure there is no power going there which means no cameras. If your house has a light on then they might wonder if you have power to any cameras also.

from this “white supremeist” I really don’t give a damn . LOL..