1. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIME PREVENTION UNIT

2. Disclaimer
No CPTED recommendations can positively ensure or guarantee a crime free environment.

3. Crime
Crime is defined as “an act or commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to be punished by that law.”

4. Crime Categories Reported Reporting crime is motivated by
Many of our decisions about what to do about crime are based upon reported crime, which do not include security incidents which may or may not be reported to the police
Reporting crime is motivated by
Social norms and morals of right and wrong
Insurance claims

5. Crime Categories Unreported Reasons for crime being unreported
A large number of crimes fall into the category of unreported crime because the victim considers them minor and not worth reporting
Reasons for crime being unreported
Fear
Apathy
Influential third parties, wealth, social, cultural

6. Crime Categories Undetected Types
This is a large category of crime that is committed against corporations and organizations. Since it is not acknowledged, it obviously goes unreported
Types
Employee theft
Shoplifting
Theft of information or ideas
Insurance Fraud

7. Crime Prevention Only 3 ways to prevent crime Organized Mechanical
Neighborhood Watch, security guards, police
Mechanical
Locks, lights, alarms, gates, fences, CCTC
Natural
This is where CPTED lives

8. What is CPTED?
The proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to the reduction in the incidence and fear of crime and thereby improve the quality of life. In other words, if a site is laid out well, the likelihood of it being targeted for a crime may be reduced

9. Playing the Odds
CPTED is most effective in preventing opportunistic crimes such as
Theft
Burglary
Vandalism
Auto theft
Drug and Prostitution related crimes

10. CPTED Overlapping Strategies
Natural Surveillance
Territorial Reinforcement
Natural Access Control
Maintenance

11. Strategies – Natural Surveillance
Design the space to allow visibility by legitimate users and keep possible intruders under observation
Make the offender’s behavior more easily noticeable

12. Recommendations Natural Surveillance
Use interior shelving and displays no higher than five feet, even less in front windows
Fully illuminate the exterior of the building and grounds at night
Place any pay telephones within clear view of employees

13. Recommendations Natural Surveillance
Place all entrances under visual surveillance
Design water retention areas to be visible from the building or street. They should be visual amenities neither hedged nor fenced which could allow undesirable activities to be hidden

14. Recommendations Natural Surveillance
Install and use good lighting at all exterior doors, common areas, and hallways
Position restrooms to be observed from nearby offices

15. Examples – Natural Surveillance
The open design of the stairs and guardrail allows the parking to be under constant surveillance by anyone leaving or looking out of their apartment

16. Examples – Natural Surveillance
The windows allow patrons to observe any activity on the street around the business

17. Examples – Natural Surveillance
Allow window signs to cover no more than 15% of windows
Too many signs may lead to unsafe feeling by potential customers

18. Strategies – Territorial Reinforcement
Territorial reinforcement is marking territorial control of a space while discouraging potential offenders who perceive this control and avoid it

19. Strategies – Territorial Reinforcement
Territorial reinforcement employs such design elements as sidewalks, landscaping, and porches to help distinguish between public and private areas and helps users exhibit signs of “ownership” that send “hands off” messages to would-be offenders
People take more interest in something they own or when they feel intrinsically involved

20. Recommendations Territorial Reinforcement
Make private areas distinguishable from public areas
Identify shops with wall signs for those parking in the rear
Position parking areas to be clearly visible from the building or street with neatly marked spaces
Design fences to maintain visibility from the street
Position security and/or reception areas at all entrances

21. Examples – Territorial Reinforcement
Accentuate building entrances with architectural elements to guide visitors and announce the transition from public space to private space

22. Examples – Territorial Reinforcement
Mark property boundaries, where possible, with hedges, low fences or gates
The low fence defines space but still allows surveillance

23. Examples – Territorial Reinforcement
Identify shops with wall signs and address numbers at the rear if parking is provided at the rear

24. Natural Access Control
Natural access control employs elements like doors, shrubs, fences, and gates to deny admission to a crime target and to create a perception among offenders that there is a risk in selecting the target.

25. Natural Access Control
The primary thrust of an access control strategy is to deny access to a crime target
Physical and mechanical means of access control-locks, bars, and alarms can supplement natural access control measures if needed

26. Recommendations Natural Access Control
Clearly mark public paths. Make private areas harder for non-employees to access
Use signs to direct patrons to parking and entrances
Provide rear public access to shops if rear public parking is offered
Reduce the number of public access points to those which are watched by guards, receptionists, nearby tenants, or passing traffic

27. Examples - Natural Access Control
Locate check-out counters at the front of the store, clearly visible from the outside. When positioned near the main entrance, employees can better watch activities

28. Examples - Natural Access Control
Install plantings and architectural design features such as columned gateway to guide visitors to desired entrances

29. Examples - Natural Access Control
Use signs to direct visitors to appropriate buildings, entrances and parking

30. Examples - Natural Access Control
Clearly define public entrances with architectural elements, lighting, landscaping, paving, and/or signage

31. Maintenance
Maintenance, including cleaning, repairing and landscaping, needs to be performed routinely to encourage use of the space for the intended purpose and discourage abnormal and criminal use.
Maintenance sends a clean signal that someone cares about the space and is likely to defend it against intruders or vandals

32. Recommendations Maintenance
Keep buildings and walks clean and repaired
Remove faded posters, broken signs, and other displays that are beyond their useful lives
Keep plantings trimmed and in good condition

33. Examples - Maintenance
Maintain parking areas to a high standard without pot-holes or trash

34. Examples - Maintenance
Keep all litter and trash picked up at all times

35. Examples - Maintenance
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors and walkways.
Keep shrubs trimmed to 3 feet and prune lower branches of trees up to 7 feet

36. Lighting
Lighting is an important element in any site design. Whether a single house or a shopping mall, appropriate lighting techniques should be used
Good lighting will help people to feel more comfortable with their surroundings
It should provide clear paths for movement and highlight entryways without creating harsh effects or shadowy hiding places

37. Examples - Lighting
Design lighting system for pedestrians that enables people to better see one another and reduce the potential risks of nighttime walks
Keep pedestrian lighting out of trees

38. Landscaping
Planting of landscape material should allow for an open line of sight between area frequented by residents and potential crime targets, limiting hiding places where criminal activity can occur

39. Landscaping
Keep dumpsters visible and avoid creating blind spots or hiding places, or place them in secured, locked areas

40. Something to Think About…
If 76% of house burglaries occur through forced entry on rear entrances, why is it we always have our biggest and best locks on the front door?

41. Thank You!
Questions?