Obviously, nobody wants to be burglarized. In a perfect world, law-abiding citizens would not have to spend hard-earned dollars protecting the possessions they purchased with still more of those hard earned dollars. Unfortunately, the more nice things you have, the more likely it is that someone will attempt to take them from you.

Over 60% of burglaries in the United States occur at residential properties, and most of them happen at night.

One of the quickest ways to really ramp up security at your home is to strategically install outdoor security lighting. A darkened home is inviting to a would-be burglar. A well-lit property has the complete opposite effect. Security lighting sends a message that the residence is well-kept and monitored and that a trespasser is highly unlikely to get by unnoticed.

Motion-Sensor Lights - Motion sensing light fixtures are one of the most commonly used types of theft-deterrent lights. They do just what their name implies: light up when movement is detected (within a certain radius). The sensitivity of MS lights can be adjusted to a low level so that the sensor picks up movement several feet away. Conversely, it can be set so that someone would have to come very close before the lights are activated. MS lights are available in just about every style and color you can imagine. They are usually affixed to a structure, like a home or garage and are often well suited for outbuildings where someone might gain initial entry to your property.

Motion sensor lights use the element of surprise to startle potential prowlers and hopefully scare them away.In the first few seconds after a motion sensor light activates, an uninvited visitor is often thrown off of his or her game; not knowing at first whether somone has just shined a flashlight at them or flicked a light on somewhere. Generally, they aren't going to stick around long enough to figure out that it was merely a motion sensor light. Even if they do realize that they are dealing with automated lighting, any burglar knows that they are at great risk of being spotted by the homeowners or neighbors once it has come on.

Spotlights and Floodlights - Spots and floods can illuminate fairly large areas, and unless equipped with a motion sensor, stay lit as long as their power source is on. They either create an intense and concentrated beam in one narrow area (spot) or cast a broad swath of light (flood).

These types of lights are nice for areas where you are going to potentially be walking around at night (for instance: alongside the house where you wheel your garbage out to the street). Criminals are not likely to lurk in a brightly lit area, so you can feel more at ease when working outdoors later at night.

This kind of lighting is not recommended for businesses. This is because commercial properties are usually deserted at night and today's security experts contend that in such cases spotlights and floodlights do nothing other than help thieves and vandals to see better. At a residential home, there are usually people around - whether in the home itself, at neighboring houses, or out on the roadway. In this kind of environment, bad guys don't want to hang around in well-lit areas.

Lighting your property for enhanced security is fairly easy and can really make a big difference in how likely your home is to be burglarized or vandalized.