Maryland Community Newspapers Online
What a relief it is to read an article ["Lighting up the streets of Kettering," Nov. 12] about current efforts set in motion to deter neighborhood crime. So often it seems that society believes that the answers to our crime problems are found solely in the hands of law enforcement, inadvertently belittling the power that we have as a community to help combat the issues that essentially affects us all. That is why I have chosen to express my admiration and applaud the residents of the Kettering neighborhood that have spearheaded an initiative to deter crime by lighting their streets.
Although this seems like a simplistic effort, it is worth noting how the increase in lighted areas correlates with a decline in criminal activities. Many criminals who victimize others are amateurs who take advantage of the opportunities they are presented with. The introduction of lights in poorly lit areas can reduce these potential opportunities by increasing a criminal's chances for detection or, at the very least, by eliminating the anonymity of such criminals.
Furthermore this initiative, sends a message to the criminal population that this community is invested and involved in keeping its residence safe and out of harm's way.
Kristen Williams, Fort Washington