Take Away People's Excuses to Commit the Crime

Many ordinary people commit less-serious crimes, even though they really know they shouldn't. They come up with reasons, such as "This store charges too much anyway," or "I always work overtime and don't get paid enough," or "This store is so big, they won't miss this one pair of pants."

The following set of crime prevention techniques involves increasing the pressure on people to do what they know is right in the first place.

1) Set Rules or Procedures that Explain Acceptable Conduct - For example, implementing a refund policy at a retail store can reduce the amount of refund fraud.

2) Remind People that the Offense is Wrong - Signs in New York City's Port Authority bus terminal read "Smoking here is illegal, selfish, and rude."

3) Limit Access to Things that Reduce People's Abilities to Think - The best example of this is alcohol.

4) Make it Easy for People to "Do the Right Thing." - Put a cash register right by the door, or put a garbage can just outside your small grocery so people won't litter so much.

---