Doing a night-time security walk every few months is a smart practice, and especially after any changes – new lights, new neighbours, recent construction, or incidents in the area. Night reveals things you don’t notice in the day: dark corners, broken lights, bushes that create hiding spots, or windows that glow clearly from the street.

Walk the perimeter (or as much as is safe and allowed) after dark and ask yourself: if you were a stranger, where would you try to approach? Are there spots where someone could stand unseen? Is the gate properly lit? Do motion-sensor lights actually activate when someone walks by? Are back doors and windows hidden from view?

You don’t need to become obsessive. Just treat it like a quiet audit: fix a bulb, trim a plant, adjust a light angle, reinforce a lock. A few small adjustments after each walk keep your property from slowly drifting into “easy target” territory without you realising.