Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
“Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach for reducing crime and fear of crime. CPTED uses architecture, urban planning, and facility management to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas to reduce crime opportunities.” -
Intentionally designing and building our physical surroundings in a particular way that will deter crime
Compare and contrast the image below. Which home has a higher chance of becoming the victim of a crime? Why?
The image on the left has a greater chance of falling prey to criminal activity. The openness of the space leaves the home vulnerable to prowlers.
The image on the right displays a home that has a much lower risk of being targeted due to the CPTED measures they’ve put in place. It’s important to note that no home is completely safe from attack but research has provided a greater understanding of what we can do to protect our home.
NOTE: Low-income families and those living under HOA (Home Owner Association) rules may not be able to implement many of the CPTED measures above.
Items listed in BOLD below are some great low cost options to implement:
A fence helps to funnel people into a particular entry/exit point off the street. Additionally, a see-through fence makes it more difficult to hide behind when engaging in illicit activities. Low-cost fence options
Having a specific pathway to the front door can be an indicator of someone’s purpose and intent. Someone not using the pathway as intended by hopping the fence and walking through the garden patch, can be an example of someone displaying suspicious behavior. Low-cost pathway options
Lighting is a known tool to deter crime. Motion sensor lights or solar lighting can be used to reduce electricity costs.
Intentionally placing specific landscaping features not only indicates a strong sense of residential ownership, they can double as physical obstacles a potential attacker would need to overcome, limiting their escape pathways. Budget friendly plant and shrubs list
Plants and shrubs, especially thorny ones, can be strategically placed to deter crime by obstructing views into your home. Thick vegetation can even be used as replacement for fencing.
Planting Resources
Prevent Crime While Saving the Environment!
Implementing some of these CPTED measures at your residence can also be a great opportunity to increase the community resilience to the harmful effects of climate change. Adding more greenery, like trees, bushes, and plants can help cool down your home. Areas with a larger amount of greenery are significantly cooler than areas with a high amount of pavement and concrete. Historically red-lined neighborhoods suffer far greater in heat waves than do their counterparts. Discover what the Urban Heat Island Effect is and more ways to cool off your property while reducing your electric bill.