You switch it on so it obvious if someone enter your premises, your neighbor can check from far, or you can see it inside the house.

I will for sure switch it on.

not for scaring thieves, just for easy spot by neighborhoods and yourself.

When its bright, your neighbours or anyone passing your house would know if there is an intruder trying to break in. If its dark it would also make it easier for an intruder to hide and ambush the owner.

These are my views, I keep both front porch and rear garder lights on at night. Get LED bulbs or energy saving bulbs if you are worried over high utility bills.

Do you feel safe when everyone switch off the light? Look outside the windows, and see nothing just dark?

Not everyone sleep like a "pig", my wife is not one of the "pig", some people sleep late, for me i sometime sleep around 2am because of late night call.  It also feel safer, and for passer by or guard on duty (guarded area) easy to spot any suspicious person.
I have a feeling you already have plan what you want to do, but just need to find more reason to execute your plan.

Do you feel safe when everyone switch off the light? Look outside the windows, and see nothing just dark?

Not everyone sleep like a "pig", my wife is not one of the "pig", some people sleep late, for me i sometime sleep around 2am because of late night call.  It also feel safer, and for passer by or guard on duty (guarded area) easy to spot any suspicious person.
I have a feeling you already have plan what you want to do, but just need to find more reason to execute your plan.

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Added on March 19, 2012, 10:12 am

When people wake up to Pee, hear sound they can quickly see or peek what's happen outside.

Do you think thief want to break into bright area or a dark area if given a preference?

I dont like too dark
1) You can hear sound but will not able to see what going ON
2) Prevent people hide at dark site
3) You could spoit if anyone around your house but if you turn the light ON to check, than what will be happen if he hide again and appears after you switch off.
4) Other will able to have better view on your housing area...

not everyone is sleeping pig. some are very sensitive to sound and they actually woke up and peek through the windows. You know lah, some will woke up pee mah although midnite.

Sometime we read news paper, neighbor call police after found / suspect someone break into house. We still have good neighbor. Sorry to say, I find many Chinese are very selfish when see things happen, try to avoid and only come out "kepo" after police is here. Malay, and Indian are much helpful in this kind of situation. I am not bias, but heard many case already. In small town / kampung area these things never happen.

When I wake up to pee (which I seldom do), I'll look outside if we did not switch on the a/c. My wife do too.

Nope..whenever i hear noises...I will look out my windows...My my neighbours next and opposite will also look out at other houses if we hear noises at nite...

Whenever my neighbours balik kampung, we will be on the look out as well ...its vice versa...it depends on how close you to your neighbours....not all neighbours dun care..

neighbour must help each other's and having a good comm with them is a very good start. We have to take initiative to comm. with them. Must have theirs contact number so anythings can call them to inform or check for us. Going vacation have to inform them too.

Playground? hmm...well..even better isnt it ? a lot of couples middle of the night love to hide at play grounds...so maybe if anything happens..then they will notice..
anyway..it is really up to u to on or off ur lights...some of my neighbours do not on their lights..its ur call..ur decision

My taman whole row of house is facing the sky. No opposite neighbour. And 99% of the house is ON their car porch light.

well, lighted or not lighted up to each individual.

i agree with those sensor. my hse was broken into in the day time and both my neighbour are around and they did not notice that my hse was broken into till we are back and saw our doors open... both my neighbour are good neighbours whereby they are always on the lookout specially at night (one of my neighbour works in hawker stall and dont sleep at night as need to prepare for next morning's business).

i have a dog too and the thief feed my dog with food.... till the next day my poor dog is having diahorrea.

thief nowdays are very smart. they broke open my sliding door and close it as it normal... hence my neighbour that is walking in and out also dont notice....

we confirm using ADT... coz they have system monitoring and 5 emergency numbers. although there's monthly payment but we think it's worth it coz our hse got broken into before and i lost almost everything valuable (including my wedding ring).... 

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Added on March 28, 2012, 10:50 amit's an additional cap to cover your lock.... you can get this at those hardware shop....