Oct 14, 2009 6:59 am US/Eastern
Lights Out Sparks Crime Wave In Fitchburg
FITCHBURG (WBZ) ―
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An effort to save money in Fitchburg appears to have sparked a crime wave.
WBZ
An effort to save money in Fitchburg appears to have sparked a crime wave.
In March, Mayor Lisa Wong made the decision to shut off 60 percent of the city's street lights. She was hoping to fill a huge gap in the city's budget. But now seven months later, residents are complaining crime has gone up because the lights went out.
"It's pitch black out here," said Joan Conroy of Providence Street. Conroy believes the darkened street lights are the reason why her car was recently spray painted in the middle of the night.
"There are no street lights everything has been shut off (you) can't see at all," she said.
Martin Walsh lives in a two family home his family has owned since 1914. He says in all that time, they've never had any problems until now. The same night Conroy's car was hit, Walsh's tenant's car was also tagged by vandals.
"It's just getting kind of scary with the lights off and knowing what's going on in the background with the damages," he said.
Walsh says his church and a nearby school have also been vandalized.
Walsh is working with police and the city council to see what can be done. City councilor Norman Boisvert says it's the mayor's decision whether to turn the lights back on.
He says she is "borderline being stubborn, but being frugal at the same time."
WBZ made numerous attempts to contact Mayor Wong, but she was not available.
In the meantime, some residents are going to great length and great expense to protect themselves. One Providence Street resident who didn't want to be identified, said after the city shut off the street lights, he went out and spent $3000 on a home security system.
Joan Conroy has lived in Fitchburg her whole life, all 79 years. She says she's convinced the increase in crime is directly related to the street lights going out.
"I would have to say yes."
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