Deflect Offenders Away from People Who Might be Victims

Reducing Theft from Shopping Bags in City Centre Markets

At busy times at a market in Birmingham, England, when people were buying things and had their money out, there was a problem with thieves who were reaching into the tops of open bags and taking out purses and wallets. It was easy for them to do this because the aisles between the stalls were quite narrow (only about six feet). People were packed in, so there was a lot of bumping and jostling going on. Imagine a crowded deli on Broad and Market Streets on a busy shopping day. Pickpockets and thieves who steal from bags really like these conditions.

The Birmingham market was redesigned so the aisles were ten feet wide. This reduced the crowding and bumping. It was harder for thieves to steal from bags because they would be noticed getting too close to the victims. This is also an example of natural surveillance. It turns out that widening the aisles reduced thefts from shopping bags by an amazing 70%.

To see more information about this case study, click here.

How can you apply this idea of "close-quarters" and crowding to your business?