Investigating the Spatiotemporal Impacts of Streetlighting on Property Crimes in Atlanta, GA

This study examines how streetlighting relates to property crime across space and time in Atlanta, Georgia, using 2021–2022 crime data. Methods include spatial clustering, time series decomposition, and regression models (OLS, GWR, and GTWR) with an emphasis on nighttime crime patterns. OLS found a significant link between streetlight density and nighttime property crime but showed spatial autocorrelation in residuals. GWR addressed spatial variation, while GTWR captured local and temporal effects. Results showed lighting reduced crime in dense central areas during late-night and winter hours, but effects varied by location. Findings suggest lighting’s impact is context-specific and time-dependent, supporting more targeted, data informed strategies for crime prevention and urban planning.