RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC LIGHTING AND CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY IN BRAZIL

Deterrence mechanisms are established in Becker’s seminal 1968 study and literature as potential inhibitors of crime progression. Among these mechanisms, public lighting stands out, although its relationship with crime remains ambiguous and underexplored, particularly in the Brazilian context. Thus, this article aims to analyze the relationship between the quality of public lighting and property crimes, with a specific focus on home robberies and thefts in Brazil. Using data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNADC) for the fourth quarter of 2021, two Probit models were estimated to assess this relationship. Results indicate that improvements in public lighting are associated with a reduction of these crimes, likely due to increased physical surveillance and informal social control. This greater visibility facilitates the identification of potential offenders, thereby discouraging criminal activities. These findings contribute to an ongoing debate on public security policies, emphasizing the importance of urban infrastructure improvements as a means of deterring illicit activities.