Whether lighting is a deterrent to break-ins or simply helps them see what they are doing has been a hot debate. It might be best to leave criminals in the dark when it comes to reducing theft from cars.
When street lighting was turned off between midnight and 5am, the level of night-time thefts from cars almost halved.
The authors suggest that it is harder for offenders to see valuables inside a car without lighting, and that it is also more difficult to remove items such as hub caps without adequate light.
The project was led by Dr Phil Edwards of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The study shows how the team looked at data for various forms of crime, including violence, as changes were made to street lighting.
There are three different types of changes to street lighting, from it being on all night, to being switched off between midnight and 5am, and white all-night illumination.
The team found that all forms of crime declined over the years studied, even though they were more common at night.
The study found that the lights could be switched off. When street lighting was turned off between midnight and 5am, the rate of total night-time crime fell by 25%, while thefts from vehicles fell by 44%.
The team found that the change in lighting was linked to a rise in theft from vehicles in adjacent streets, which were lit throughout the night.
The team suggests that if crimes are committed at any time of the day, the switch to off the lights in the small hours might bring a reduction in crime.
The new work shows the decisions that need to be made about whether or not to light the streets.
It is clear from other studies that street lighting makes people feel safer.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
