Chestermere property crime data, peer reviewed research on lighting as a crime deterrent, and how permanent outdoor LED lighting protects lakeside homes, new developments, and acreages year round.
Chestermere is one of the fastest growing communities in Alberta, and with that growth comes a natural question every homeowner asks: how safe is my neighbourhood? Property crime, vehicle break ins, and porch theft are real concerns in Chestermere, and the data shows they are not going away on their own.
This article looks at the current state of crime in Chestermere, what the research says about outdoor lighting as a crime deterrent, and how permanent outdoor LED lighting gives homeowners a practical, year round tool to make their property safer.
Chestermere crime: what the numbers say
Chestermere has experienced steady population growth over the past decade, and like most growing Alberta communities, property crime has grown with it. According to Chestermere RCMP annual reports and Statistics Canada data:
- Property crime remains the most common crime type in Chestermere, including theft from vehicles, break and enters, and mischief
- Theft from motor vehicles is consistently the highest volume property crime. Unlocked vehicles in driveways are the primary target
- Break and enters tend to spike during darker months (October through March) when homes are unlit for longer periods
- Porch piracy has increased significantly with the rise of online shopping and package delivery
- Rural residential properties on the outskirts of Chestermere experience higher rates of property crime due to isolation and limited street lighting
The pattern is clear: dark, unlit properties are targeted more often than well lit ones. Criminals look for easy opportunities, and a dark home signals that nobody is watching.
What the research says about lighting and crime
The relationship between outdoor lighting and crime reduction is one of the most studied topics in environmental criminology. Here is what decades of research have found:
The landmark studies
The Campbell Collaboration (2008) conducted the most comprehensive meta analysis of street lighting and crime. After reviewing 13 rigorous studies across the US and UK, they found:
- Crime decreased by 21% in areas where lighting was improved compared to control areas
- The effect was consistent across both violent crime and property crime
- The reduction occurred during both daytime and nighttime, suggesting that lighting improves community surveillance and social cohesion, not just visibility
The New York City Housing Authority study (2016) used a randomized controlled trial across 40 public housing developments:
- Temporary lighting towers were installed in high crime areas
- Outdoor crimes decreased by 36% in the lit areas
- The effect was strongest for index crimes (robbery, assault, and other serious offences)
- Researchers concluded that lighting was one of the most cost effective crime reduction tools available
The UK Home Office research (2002) examined 13 before and after studies in residential areas:
- Improved street lighting reduced crime by an average of 20% in residential areas
- The effect was most pronounced for crimes of opportunity (theft, vandalism, vehicle break ins)
- Well lit areas showed increased pedestrian activity, which created natural surveillance
Why lighting works as a deterrent
The research identifies three mechanisms:
- Increased visibility. Criminals avoid areas where they can be seen. A lit perimeter means neighbours, passersby, and security cameras can identify suspicious activity
- Signal of occupancy. A lit home looks occupied. An unlit home looks empty. Burglars consistently report in surveys that they avoid homes that appear occupied
- Community surveillance. Well lit streets and properties encourage people to be outside longer, walk more, and look out for each other. This "eyes on the street" effect (first described by Jane Jacobs in 1961) is one of the most powerful crime prevention mechanisms
What does not work
The research is equally clear about what does not deter criminals:
- Motion activated floods alert the criminal that they have been detected, but by the time the light triggers, the criminal is already on the property. Consistent ambient lighting prevents them from approaching in the first place
- Lights that are off most of the time provide no deterrent value. A home that is dark 90% of the time and occasionally triggers a flood light is still a dark home
- Dim decorative lighting (solar path lights, low wattage accent lights) does not provide enough illumination to create real visibility or signal occupancy
How permanent outdoor lights protect Chestermere homes
A permanent outdoor LED lighting system is fundamentally different from traditional security lighting. Here is why it works as a crime deterrent in Chestermere:
Full perimeter coverage
Your lights wrap the entire roofline, soffits, and eaves. Every side of your home is illuminated. There are no dark corners, no blind spots, and no gaps between fixtures. Traditional security lights cover a spot. Permanent lights cover everything.
Always on scheduling
The GOULY app lets you schedule lights to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise, every single day, automatically adjusted for seasonal changes. Your home is never dark. You never have to remember to turn anything on.
Vacation mode
When you are away, set your lights to run on a varied schedule that simulates occupancy. Different brightness levels at different times. Lights that behave like someone is home, because to a criminal watching from the street, they cannot tell the difference. Our smart lighting security guide covers vacation mode strategies in detail.
Smart home integration
Pair your permanent lights with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. When a doorbell camera detects motion, trigger your roofline to flash to full brightness. A visible, whole house response that tells the criminal they have been seen. See our Alexa & Google Home setup guide for step-by-step instructions and our home security with smart lighting guide for the full security strategy.
Visible from the street
Unlike backyard floods that only light a small area, permanent roofline lights are visible from the street, from the sidewalk, and from neighbouring properties. This creates the "eyes on the street" surveillance effect that research shows is one of the most effective deterrents.
Year round operation
Traditional security lights are installed reactively (after a break in or scare). Permanent lights are proactive. They run every night, all year, for $55/year in electricity. Prevention, not reaction.
Chestermere specific security considerations
Lakeside properties
Homes along Chestermere Lake have longer setbacks and fewer neighbours on the water side. Permanent lights on the back eave are critical for these properties because traditional street lighting does not reach the lakeside.
New developments
Many new Chestermere subdivisions have limited street lighting during the early build out phase. Permanent lights on your home fill the gap until municipal infrastructure catches up.
Acreages and rural properties
Properties on the outskirts of Chestermere (along Rainbow Road, east of the lake, and near the canal) are more isolated and have higher property crime rates. Full perimeter permanent lighting is especially valuable here because there is no municipal street lighting at all.
Vehicle theft prevention
Chestermere RCMP consistently report that theft from vehicles is the number one property crime. A well lit driveway and front eave line makes it significantly harder for someone to approach a vehicle undetected.
The cost of crime vs the cost of prevention
Consider the math:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Average vehicle break in loss (contents + window) | $500 to $2,000 |
| Average porch theft (package replacement) | $50 to $500 |
| Average home insurance deductible | $500 to $1,000 |
| Insurance premium increase after claim | $200 to $600/year for 3 to 5 years |
| Total cost of one property crime incident | $1,250 to $4,100+ |
Now compare that to permanent lighting:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Permanent lighting system (one time install) | Varies by home |
| Annual electricity cost | ~$55/year |
| Maintenance | Virtually zero |
| Years of perimeter security | 25+ years (50,000 hour LED lifespan) |
One prevented break in can pay for years of permanent lighting operation. And unlike a security camera that records a crime after it happens, lighting prevents the crime from happening in the first place.
What Chestermere homeowners can do today
- Audit your home's dark spots. Walk your property at night and identify areas where someone could approach undetected
- Light the full perimeter. Front, sides, and back. Not just the front door
- Use consistent, ambient light. Dusk to dawn scheduling beats motion activated floods
- Pair lighting with cameras. The combination of visible lighting + visible cameras is the strongest deterrent
- Talk to your neighbours. A well lit block is safer than a single well lit house
- Consider permanent lighting. A one time install that runs for 25+ years with app control, 1,000+ designs, and security patterns built in
Visit our Gallery to see permanent lighting installs on homes in Chestermere and the surrounding area, read our home security with smart lighting guide, or check out our security lighting patterns for free downloadable designs you can scan into the GOULY app right now.
Sources and further reading
- Campbell Collaboration. "Improved Street Lighting and Crime Prevention: A Systematic Review." 2008
- New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. "Reducing Crime Through Environmental Design: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment." 2016
- UK Home Office. "Crime Prevention Effects of Closed Circuit Television: A Systematic Review." Research Development and Statistics Directorate. 2002
- Jacobs, Jane. "The Death and Life of Great American Cities." Random House. 1961
- Statistics Canada. Police reported crime statistics, Chestermere RCMP detachment
- Chestermere RCMP Annual Reports
Ready to light up your Chestermere home for security and every occasion?
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Peer reviewed research shows that improved outdoor lighting reduces property crime by 20 to 36 percent. The Campbell Collaboration meta analysis (2008) and the NYC Housing Authority randomized trial (2016) both confirm significant crime reductions in well lit areas.
Theft from motor vehicles is consistently the highest volume property crime in Chestermere, according to RCMP annual reports. The majority involve unlocked vehicles in driveways, especially at dark, unlit properties.
Research shows that consistent ambient lighting is more effective than motion activated floods. Motion lights tell criminals that nobody is actively watching. Consistent dusk to dawn lighting makes it impossible to tell, which is a stronger deterrent.
The average home runs approximately $55 per year in electricity for a full permanent lighting system, including security schedules. One prevented break in can pay for years of operation.
Yes. Lakeside properties benefit especially because the water side typically has no street lighting. Permanent lights on the back eave provide perimeter coverage that municipal lighting cannot reach.
Yes. The same system runs security white at night, Christmas candy cane in December, team colours on game night, and any of 1,000+ patterns from the GOULY app. No extra hardware or cost.
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