Stockton Lighting Up The Night To Help Fight Crime

STOCKTON (CBS13) -- It's no secret the city of Stockton has a serious crime problem. Already this year 55 people have been murdered in Stockton, the highest murder rate here since 1992.

Now Stockton Councilwoman Diana Lowery has what she calls a bright idea to curb crime.

"We know that criminals look for dark places, and when we leave our front porch lights on our house becomes less of a target," Lowery said.

The idea sounded like a bright one to one resident.

"I hear gunshots going off all the time over here, it's just crazy," Barbara Mata said.

The city of Stockton is giving away lights for free to residents like Mata to make their neighborhoods safer. They're handing out thousands of energy-efficient light bulbs for residents to screw into sockets on their porch. Residents then turn on their porch lights and leave them on all night.

"Yeah, I think it's a great idea," Mata said. "If we can get everyone to go in on it, if you can get everyone to keep their lights on, it would help a lot."

The program is called "Light up the night. Crime hates it bright." The light bulbs are donated by corporate sponsors. Leaving the lights on will cost a resident a little more than a dollar a month.

"Especially on this street with all the crackheads walking around," said Christopher Ruiz.

In this city where they've been making headlines for a dismal economy, meager budgets and big cuts to the police force, they're hoping this new program will bring a little light and a lot more safety to their neighborhoods.