Friday, March 02, 2007

[Sweden] Crime falls after streetlights cut out / The Local, 1 Mar 2007
http://www.thelocal.se/6567/20070301/
"Thefts and burglaries fell by half in a northern Swedish town after an electricity company cut off power to its streetligh following a dispute over price rises. Contrary to expectations, the dark streets have been accompanied by a fall in crime. During the third quarter of 2005, when Övertorneå was fully illuminated, around a hundred thefts and burglaries were reported. In the same period of 2006, after the town was plunged into darkness, police only 50 received reports of similar offences. The municipality of Övertorneå covers an area of 2,374 square kilometres and has just over 5,000 inhabitants. As well as crime not going up, road accidents have not become more common in the darkness, police say." [Brief]