Thursday 5 January 2012

"...it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly."

The police said the amount of crime has actually gone down in some areas, partly because burglars do not like working in the dark. They like to see their getaway route and attract too much attention using torches.
Really?
Another Barrs Court resident, Roy James, 70, a retired graphic designer, said: "I don't see why there can't be a compromise. In some roads used by people late at night, they are now pitch black. Surely the council could take into account these anomalies so street lights are switched on where they are obviously needed.

"As far as the council is concerned, it's all or nothing which seems very inflexible.

"The other thing is, if you ask a police officer to come and check your security at your home, the first thing they will say is get yourself some security lights.

"If burglars don't like the dark, why are we encouraged to get security lights? It doesn't make any sense
."
Hmmmm....

10 comments:

A salt and battered said...

It's not like the police to invent excuses for avoiding work. They will try any excuse to get away from those hot, stuffy canteens.

Woodsy42 said...

I have neighbours who leave outside lights permanently on all night for 'security'. I have always been annoyed by them and always argued that lighting their way will help and attract intruders not dissuade them.
Security lights with a movement sensor are very different. They switch on and attract attention when someone moves around at night.
Seems like someone agrees with me?

Weekend Yachtsman said...

Why don't we put PIR's on the street lights?

microdave said...

"Why don't we put PIR's on the street lights?"

Because the vast majority use gas discharge lights of various types. These cannot just be turned on and off every time someone passes, and require several minutes to warm up.

As traditional bulbs are horribly inefficient and cause global warming, polar bear deaths, sea level rise, plagues & pestilence etc, the only alternative would be wholesale replacement with LED fittings. The cost would be horrendous.

By putting the onus on individual householders, the council pass the buck as regards cost, AND can also claim to have reduced their "Carbon Footprint"!






Please note, much of the above includes a fair degree of cynicism...

NickM said...

Woodsy42,
I agree with you entirely.

Captain Haddock said...

"Security lights with a movement sensor are very different. They switch on and attract attention when someone moves around at night" ...

Including every sodding Moggie in the neighbourhood ..

"Why don't we put PIR's on the street lights" ?

"The cost would be horrendous" ...

And that Foreign Aid budget must be maintained, at all costs and comes well ahead of any spending on the safety of people living here ..

John Pickworth said...

This urban fear of the dark has been known about for a while.

In fact, darkness is a ally of the household who knows his territory and a foe for the burglar who doesn't. One of the worse things you can do if disturbed in the night is to switch on the lights. Not only are you familiar with the layout of your home and less likely to fall over the sofa, but the crim/druggie won't know whether you're an old lady with a frying pan or a body builder with a baseball bat/gun/bazooka.

Anonymous said...

Canteens again Melvin? You are getting obsessed.I am disappointed though not to se the word "radiator" in that post.
Jaded

Anonymous said...

"The police said the amount of crime has actually gone down in some areas, partly because burglars do not like working in the dark."

I can see that. I don't doubt that there are places so rought these days that even the criminals won't go there after dark.

JuliaM said...

"Security lights with a movement sensor are very different. "

Except when too sensitive, as Capt Haddock points out...

"Please note, much of the above includes a fair degree of cynicism..."

:D

"One of the worse things you can do if disturbed in the night is to switch on the lights. Not only are you familiar with the layout of your home and less likely to fall over the sofa, but the crim/druggie won't know whether you're an old lady with a frying pan or a body builder with a baseball bat/gun/bazooka."

Good advice!

Also, light destroys your night vision for a few seconds. It also destroys theirs, though...