Research note: Variation of the effect of ambient light level on crime frequency with type of crime and location

Previous studies have suggested mixed results about the effect of road lighting on crime. One potential explanation is that the effect of lighting, if any, varies with the type of crime. This was tested through analysis of the effect of change in ambient light level on crimes recorded in 11 cities in the USA for the 10-year period 2010–2019. The results suggest that ambient light level had a consistent effect on robbery, with darkness leading to an increase in robbery, but did not suggest a significant effect for other types of crime.