To leave the porch light on all night?

[TheHouseOnTheLane]

DH and DD2 are away tonight...DD1 and I are at home. This is the first night I've spent in our new house (been here 2 months) with no other adult.

I'm in Oz and it's 9.00pm and of course it's windy outside meaning multiple bangs and bumps are apparent and making me nervous!!

I was thinking of putting the porch light on...as a way to feel more secure but is it sensible? Is it something that actually deters intruders?

[senua]

If the DC are out late I leave the porch light on for them and a bedside lamp in their room, to save them stumbling about in the dark.

So in our house porch light = person likely to arrive home at some time soon-ish. That thought might deter burglars.
But if it makes you happy then do it.

[BitOutOfPractice]

What reasons might it not be sensible?

[BeanGirls]

I often leave the downstairs porch light and bathroom light on when I'm on my own in the hpuse. It makes me feel safer. I would think that houses with lights on deter break ins as it might make them think that the occupiers are still awake.

[BlueJug]

I leave it on all night always. Anyone coming home has light to get in. I don't know whether it deters burglars or not but I guess that a house with lights is more likely to be occupied/occupiers awake than one with a light.

[tiggerkid]

My neighbour always leaves it on at night. I don't think it's the question of being sensible or not. It's your choice. If it makes you feel more safe, then do it. I don't leave ours on because we have a fairly decent street light opposite our house. I would agree that it can be a bit of a deterrent as it also indicates that someone is at home or at least gives that impression. At the end of the day, it's your electricity bill and you decide when to leave it on and when to turn it off.

[TheHouseOnTheLane]

Practice I read that it actually makes a house stand out more and provides light for intruders....they like them apparently because torches look suspicious and if there's bushes in front of a house, that gives them cover too.