A couple years ago, my parents, suburb dwellers in the Midwest, were spooked by a burglary in their neighborhood. A detective from the local police department s

A couple years ago, my parents, suburb dwellers in the Midwest, were spooked by a burglary in their neighborhood. A detective from the local police department suggested to them, and many neighbors, that they keep their outdoor lights on all night. Now, the lights at the front and back doors, which we once turned out every night, burn all night long. I feel so sad—the loss of darkness, the unnecessary electricity consumption—I don't know what could turn things around.