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Original poster

Houses with NO lights on in winter

195 replies

BruceAndNosh · 04/11/2021 19:48

I guess it's more noticeable now the clocks have changed, but both our neighbours' houses are in total darkness at 7pm. It's obvious that no one is at home, the house is empty.
Is this not a security risk?
I think they both have burglar alarms but don't think either of them ever use it.

Yes, I know thousands of people can't afford to leave random lights on, but this isn't the case here.

I hate a dark house and have a couple of lights set to come on automatically at dusk.

What do you do?

OP posts:
TrulyPistoff · 04/11/2021 20:23

I don't leave lights on, doesn't seem eco friendly.

We changed all our lights to LED many years ago, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.
I live in a dark country during winter, we
(and everyone else here) have our house full of little lights in the entire house to make it cozy and hygge. Ceiling lights are never on, too bright. Some lights are on all night.

TrulyPistoff · 04/11/2021 20:24

If any of our neighbour’s houses were completely dark at night I’d be worried something had happened to them. 😂

NiceGerbil · 04/11/2021 20:24

Lol sparkling of course she can post! Not sure why you getting miffed.

I could be a burglar. So could OP. Or anyone on here. Who knows?

DaisyNGO · 04/11/2021 20:25

I really notice this stuff and worry about burglary in our block of flats. Once you are in the main door, you're in. And people are used to seeing random workmen around.

My parents live in a house. one of their neighbours has a random timer light which I really like. I think it's set to come on 3 times between dusk and dawn.

my parents don't go out much now after dark, but when they did, they always left a light on. They never got round to a timer light but all their neighbours have.

the chap next door has been burgled twice in spite of having a burglar alarm. He has a pricey car - we think they were looking for the keys. he's the only one in the street - a small street - with a posh car so we think that was it.

I think the increase in working at home will help the situation though?

Sparklingbrook · 04/11/2021 20:26

@NiceGerbil

Lol sparkling of course she can post! Not sure why you getting miffed.

I could be a burglar. So could OP. Or anyone on here. Who knows?

I'm not miffed, strange you would think that. You were suggesting OP not posting on here.
Sparklingbrook · 04/11/2021 20:27

@TrulyPistoff

If any of our neighbour’s houses were completely dark at night I’d be worried something had happened to them. 😂
Me too.
Original poster
BruceAndNosh · 04/11/2021 20:27

@NiceGerbil

I'm also guessing that OP interest in goings on would mean cops called at hint of trouble!!

7pm would be a shit time to break in surely. Risk people come home from work.

If I were a pro I'd look for out all day/ hols personally.

My "interest in goings-on" consisted of putting my bins out. I'm not Miss Marple!

I guess I'm in a minority hating a dark house.

OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 04/11/2021 20:28

@TrulyPistoff

I don't leave lights on, doesn't seem eco friendly.

We changed all our lights to LED many years ago, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t.
I live in a dark country during winter, we
(and everyone else here) have our house full of little lights in the entire house to make it cozy and hygge. Ceiling lights are never on, too bright. Some lights are on all night.

Why leave them on all night though? Confused
Sparklingbrook · 04/11/2021 20:28

How very dare you put your bins out and notice stuff @BruceAndNosh Grin

NiceGerbil · 04/11/2021 20:29

For sure generally burglars don't want to come across people for a massive load of reasons.

I'm here all the time now and loads on road as well. We all know each other and keep an eye when hols etc.

I also have a large man who comes and goes at unpredictable times so I imagine before wtf ft he would have put anyone off.

Next door has had 2 failed attempts. Gardener they were after equipment.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 04/11/2021 20:29

If we’re not at home, the lights are off. I’m not paying to light an empty house.
Haven’t been burgled yet, after 20 years of this strategy.
7pm would be a pretty risky time to burgle someone anyway, as people will be getting back from work/the gym etc.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 04/11/2021 20:30

@TrulyPistoff

If any of our neighbour’s houses were completely dark at night I’d be worried something had happened to them. 😂
Really? I’d just think mine had gone out.
torquewench · 04/11/2021 20:31

@Babdoc

What would burglars actually bother breaking in for? Nobody keeps wads of cash in their house, and if you are out, you have presumably taken your car, keys, credit card and phone with you. In my house, they would be very disappointed unless they fancy trying to lug away a few thousand paperbacks, with a resale value of about 1p each!
In my case: jewellery, car keys, ipod, tablet, laptop. And a pillowcase off my bed to carry it all away in. 🤬
NiceGerbil · 04/11/2021 20:31

Grin at miss Marple.

I think I'm quite unusual in not noticing stuff tbh.

One of my neighbours though... When I bump into her she's always speculating about this and that. Best one was boy up road was certainly a drug dealer!

Bontanics · 04/11/2021 20:32

I live with a lighting designer it's like Blackpool illuminations in this house. All leds of course but there is always something glowing in a corner somewhere.

Sparklingbrook · 04/11/2021 20:33

I haven't been burgled in 26 years of leaving lights on timers. Although we do have a very visible burglar alarm box on the front so that might help.

TrulyPistoff · 04/11/2021 20:33

@TuftyMarmoset not all of them obviously. A couple in the windows facing the street, and a couple small ones in the house. Different cultures, it’s pitch black most of the day during winter and it basically feels safer.

itsgettingwierd · 04/11/2021 20:35

@2tired2bewitty

Although I do often leave a light on somewhere in the house, I don’t truly believe that a determined burglar is going to look at a house with no car on the drive and the landing light on and think “better try somewhere else”.
This!

Burglars break into houses in the middle of the night with lights off, cars on drive and it's pretty obvious people will be in and asleep.

I don't think they are more likely to go to a house at 7pm when people are out and about and can watch them entering because lights are off.

Original poster
BruceAndNosh · 04/11/2021 20:35

@Sparklingbrook

How very dare you put your bins out and notice stuff *@BruceAndNosh* Grin
I know! I'm also an interfering busybody as I put my neighbour's bin out too.
OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 04/11/2021 20:36

Yes burglars are usually after electronics and jewellery. I have heard of SE Asian families being targeted because they often have a lot of gold jewellery.

I don’t have a burglar alarm or put lights on timers and I’ve never been burgled either.

torquewench · 04/11/2021 20:37

They took my spare car key, which was annoying because I had to get a new set in case they came back to take my car (Audi A5 Quattro at the time).

I've also had bicycles taken from a locked garage. New garage door has a loud annoying squeak I'm not going to sort out as it alerts a neighbour's German Shepherd who barks each time in open it

One tip I got from the police, after the event was not to keep jewellery in your bedroom as its the first place they'll look.

NiceGerbil · 04/11/2021 20:37

We do our neighbours bins and they do ours. It's nice isn't it! And we all take parcels without stropping Grin

TrulyPistoff · 04/11/2021 20:37

@ThePoisonousMushroom I’m not in the UK (used to be) and I know the cultures are different. When I lived in the UK I didn’t have lights on. But it would be total darkness most of the day here during winter and the headaches from not enough light are horrible.

NiceGerbil · 04/11/2021 20:38

Knicker drawer is really common to hide jewellery. So don't put it there!

AuntMargo · 04/11/2021 20:38

@NiceGerbil

Only read OP.

Are you a burglar??!!

I can't say I notice about lights in neighbours houses. MN really is enlightening.

I know people do though.. Bins out or not? Opened curtains? Etc etc.

I mean who cares.

If you're worried about their security then have a chat with them rather than posting on here.

Rude !!