A moonlit alley is a classic. The rain, the wet cobblestones, the flicker of neon all give you tangible detail, and the darkness can mask what’s really going on. Poetry is fine if it enhances the mood, but don’t let it eclipse the facts. A crime story needs a concrete skeleton; the poetic touches just need to be grounded in realistic sensory details. It’s a balance—you paint the scene, then let the grit reveal itself beneath.