Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

By Ricardo Figueroa

Crime Prevention Through

Environmental Design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is the modification of one’s surroundings in order to make an area less attractive to criminals.

So how do we do this?

Let’s take a trip through my neck of the woods and you

will find out

Notice this home has no address posted

If a criminal breaks in, it makes it harder for your neighbor to give the cops your address

Notice these trees blocking view of

the entrance

A burglar can break down your front door and nobody will see anything

Notice the car is parked away from view of a window.

A thief can duck down and smash the window or melt the door handle from the passenger side.

How do you prevent this home from

becoming a victim?

Remove the plants from blocking view of the entrance so that

you can also see your car.

Make sure your home address is posted.

Park your car in your driveway so you can see it

from your window!

Here we have an abandoned

home.

The window is wide open.

… and the fence is broken

This type of home is attractive to truant teenagers, drug users and dealers, and gang members.

How to address this problem?

Close the windows

Fix the fence, and add a no

trespassing and beware of dog sign

In some counties you can report the home and it will be boarded and locked up until ready to sell.

Conclusion:There are many ways to improve the

quality of your neighborhood, to make it harder to be a target for criminals, and to reduce victimization.

The best place to start is by attending your neighborhood crime watch meetings or by starting one.

It also helps to contact your local police department for tips on making your home safer.

THE END