Make the Crime Seem Harder

People usually don't commit crimes that seem too hard. If you can make criminals think it will be too difficult to "do business with you," they will probably pass you by. There are four general things you can do to increase perceived effort. Click on each one for a case study illustrating the technique.

1) Obstruct Offenders with Physical Barriers - Use safes, locks, screens, high counters, and so on.

2) Control Access to Places Where Offenders Don't Belong - Examples include fences, access keypads and phones, and reception areas.

3) Deflect Offenders Away from People who Might be Victims - Rather than having all bars close at once in a downtown area, it is better to stagger the closing times so there aren't a large number of drunk people in one area at the same time.

4) Control the Tools of Crime - Some bars ask patrons to check their knives and helmets at the door (to prevent serious fights).

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