Crime Prevention Tip of the Month
Visual Deterrents

May 2004
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Dear Reader,

Welcome to the Crime Prevention Tip of the Month. I am a working Police Officer with 30 years experience with a major North American Police Service. My involvement in Crime Prevention has spanned 9 years, and my specialty lies with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). In my position, I consult with homeowners, businesses and developers in their attempt to "design out" crime.

I am a strong believer in the use of visual and physical deterrents (such as window bars) to raise the level of a premise's protection.

Tip of the Month
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What exactly is a visual deterrent?

Simply, it's anything you use to convince a criminal to look somewhere else to commit his crime. Criminals are no different than you and I. None of us want to make our job harder than it is or compY5{more than necessary. If a thief thinks the risk of being caught is too high he will move on to another location that looks more vulnerable.

How do we increase the risk for the criminal?

Make your property look like someone cares. Criminals look for victims who are inattentive. Clutter and confusion are their best allies. Make sure your yard is tidy and that trees and bushes don't give unintentional cover for criminals.

When you're going away, get somebody to pick up your papers and mail and to cut your lawn or clear your driveway of snow. Have someone park in your driveway and get your neighbor to put some of his garbage at the bottom of your driveway when you're on vacation. Light timers are a good idea as well.

Unless you live in a very affluent community, don't be too concerned about criminals staking out your home to record your personal lifestyle or what time you leave and return. Criminals don't invest that much time in average break-ins unless they know the payback on their time investment will be substantial.

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Visual deterrents tell criminals that you are security conscious and looking out for your property. Many of them are inexpensive and others function as both visual and physical deterrents. Take a look around your property and see what you can do to tell thieves to look elsewhere.

Try these:

• motion detector lighting
• window bars
• security signage
• escutcheon plates
• clear sight lines
• community watch decals
• light timers
• Beware of Dog signs
• door security grille

Click here to view available Goodbar products

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