Trees
& Crime
Recommended Target Hardening Links:
The Target Hardening Trap - by Tom McKay (CPTED
Specialist with Peel Regional Police)
Physical Security Wrapped In CPTED Clothing -
another document from the Peel Regional Police |
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 More
images with descriptions to be added this summer.
On a personal note...
In a previous career, I was a sales representative for a large tree
company. I arrived for work one day to discover that we had been
robbed. Every chain saw was stolen. The police officer that arrived
and filled out a report recommended that we contact their crime
prevention specialist to formally assess the security of our
facility. The crime prevention specialist made a number of
suggestions, but we were still stinging from being victims and we
had a typical knee-jerk reaction and only implemented Draconian
steps to create an impenetrable fortress. These changes included
bars on our windows and doors, the removal of a beautiful mature
hedge, installation of large (and impressive) deadbolt locks (with
strike plates), and a series of motion-detecting floodlights around
the building. After a week or two, the rage was gon and we soon
began to experience new feelings about our workplace. We began to
feel demoralized every morning when we saw our "moonscape" sticking
out from the other neighboring properties. The next thing we would
encounter would be the bars and incredibly large deadbolt locks. Our
employees weren't the only ones hesitant about working in our new
fortress. Visitors would usually inquire about all of the security
features and even expressed concern about how one would exit the
building in the event of an emergency. In short, our crime
prevention measures hurt business. |
Recall the definition of CPTED, offered by the Virginia Crime Prevention
Association:
The proper design and effective use of the built
environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime
and an improvement in the quality of life.
Note how important it is to influence the public's perception.
Intended users (law abiding citizens) will avoid entering a space if
they don't feel safe. It's predictable what will happen to that space
when it is no longer being used properly. Overt target hardening can
send the wrong message to the public - we're losing the battle. Even
continual police presence can become target hardening and thus an
irritant to the public... not unlike an occupying army.
Target hardening in some circumstances may be the best strategy for
crime prevention. For example, if a warehouse or storage facility, not
intended to serve customers from the public, is located in an isolated
area and has experienced robberies in the past, then target hardening is
appropriate.
Can Target Hardening include landscapes?
Yes. The lack of a landscape, or the harsh pruning/removal of an
existing landscape can alert intended users that the owners of this
property are concerned about security. These "moonscapes" work against
CPTED by creating a perception in the minds of law abiding citizens that
this particular property may be unsafe.
Here's a lawyer's office in Austin, Texas
Security fencing around the back of a hotel (Washington Hilton)
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