This presentation is based on CPTED principles as taught by law enforcement agencies around the country.

1. Life Safety & Property
Protection
Safeguarding Your Family, Your Home, Your
Employees and Business Today

2. Your Guest Speaker
Troy Ross
Former 15 Year Veteran Police Officer
Electronic Security Consultant
Quality CCTV Systems in Midlothian, VA

3. What is Crime Prevention?
It is the anticipation, recognition and appraisal
of a crime risk (or risks) and the initiation of
some action to remove or reduce it.

4. CPTED
CPTED* is Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design.
It is a theory that says that law enforcement
officers, architects, city planners, landscape
and interior designers, and resident volunteers
can create a climate of safety in a community
right from the start.
Strategies rely upon the ability to influence
offender decisions that precede criminal acts.
* Ray C. Jeffery. (1971), a criminologist from Florida State University

5. The Benefits
Improved sense of security and quality of life
through reduced fear of crime
Fewer crimes committed in neighborhoods,
fewer victimizations of residents
Safer business locations that are more
attractive to customers and employees

6. The Three Key CPTED Principles
Natural Surveillance
Natural Access Control
Natural Territorial Reinforcement

7. Natural Surveillance
Increases the threat of apprehension by taking steps
to increase the perception that people can be seen.
Occurs by designing the placement of physical
features, activities and people in such a way as to
maximize visibility and foster positive social
interaction among legitimate users of private and
public space.
Potential offenders feel increased scrutiny and
limitations on their escape routes.

8. Examples of Natural Surveillance
Leave window shades open during the day
See that plantation is no higher than any
window sill
See that tree limbs hang no lower than 6 feet
from the ground
Keep tree limbs from second floor access
Use the shortest, least sight-limiting fence
possible

9. More Examples of Natural Surveillance
Make sure that the area is well lit at night
Use motion detectors and photocell control on
all exterior lights
Natural surveillance measures can be
complemented by mechanical and
organizational measures. For example, CCTV
cameras can be added in areas where window
surveillance is unavailable.

10. Natural Surveillance

11. Natural Access Control
Natural access control limits the opportunity
for crime by taking steps to clearly
differentiate between public space and private
space.
By selectively placing entrances and exits,
fencing, lighting and landscape to limit access
or control flow, natural access control occurs.

12. Examples of Natural Access Control
Use a single, clearly identifiable, point of
entry.
In businesses, use structures to divert persons
to reception areas.
Use low, thorny bushes beneath ground level
windows.
Use a locking gate between front and
backyards.

13. More Examples of Natural Access Control
In the front yard, use waist-level, picket-type
fencing along residential property lines to
control access, encourage surveillance.
Use substantial, high, closed fencing (for
example, masonry) between a backyard and a
public alley.

14. Natural Access Control

15. Natural Territorial Reinforcement
Promotes social control through increased
definition of space.
To clearly delineate private space does two
things – a) it creates a sense of ownership
which challenges intruders and b) the sense of
owned space creates an environment where
strangers or intruders stand out and are more
easily identified.

16. Natural Territorial Reinforcement
By using buildings, fences, pavement, signs,
lighting and landscape to express ownership
and define public, semi-public and private
space, natural territorial reinforcement occurs.

17. Examples
Maintained premises and landscaping such
that it communicates an alert and active
presence occupying the space.
Plant trees! Spaces with more trees are seen as
significantly more attractive, more safe – but
sure tree limbs hang no lower than 6 feet from
the ground.
Display security system signage at access
points.

18. Examples
Placing amenities such as seating or
refreshments in common areas in a
commercial or institutional setting helps to
attract larger numbers of desired users.
Territorial reinforcement measures make the
normal user feel safe and make the potential
offender aware of a substantial risk of
apprehension or scrutiny.

19. Natural Territorial Reinforcement

20. CPTED Enhanced
Activity Support – which increases the use of
a built environment for safe activities with the
intent of increasing the risk of detection of
criminal and undesirable activities.
Maintenance – is an expression of ownership
of property. Deterioration indicates less
control by the intended users of a site and
indicates a greater tolerance of disorder.

21. Activity Support
Organizing inclusive neighborhood events on
community property or your own property.
Providing benches, picnic tables, and working water
fountains in neighborhood parks.
Scheduling athletic events at nearby public school
facilities.
Holding outdoor gatherings on hot summer nights.
Accommodating bicycles, joggers, and fitness
walkers.
Providing community dog exercise areas.

22. Maintenance
Maintaining lawns, planting flowers and
trimming shows pride of ownership.
Change bulbs immediately when they burn
out.
Do not keep inoperable vehicles on the
property (store them in a garage).
Replace broken windows & maintain painted
surfaces on buildings.

23. The 3 Ds of Assessment
Designation – what is the space used for and
how well does it currently support its use?
Definition – how is the space currently
defined and where are the borders? Is it clear
who owns the space? Are there signs?
Design – does the current design support
desirable behavior? What can be improved?

24. Target Hardening
Means of reducing the opportunity for the
criminal to commit a crime by tightening
security of potential crime targets.
For example, a convenience store displays
large ads in their windows. The windows
should be targeted by removing the ads to
improve visibility to those inside and out.

25. Exterior Lighting
Lighting should be taken into serious
consideration. Many forms of lighting do not
produce ample coverage of areas to insure
proper visibility.
For example, standard incandescent bulbs
provide poor lighting, however, metal halide
provide the best.

26. Incandescent on a Deck

27. Metal Halide for Parking

28. Fencing and Walls
The use of fences and walls defines territory
and separates public areas from private areas.
Using the correct types and heights enhances
their capabilities and purpose.

29. Fencing and Walls

30. Which Would Best Deter Crime?

31. The Security Survey
The Security Survey is a comprehensive
appraisal and study of the property. Typically
a checklist is used to note specifics.
Once completed, the data is considered and a
recommendation report is compiled and
issued to the customer.
Quality CCTV Systems is the only electronic
security provider in the area that conducts
such surveys.

32. Recommendation Report
The report consists of recommendations. No
compliance is required but strongly suggested.
A recommendation followed in a report does
not guarantee that your property will be 100%
immune to criminal activity.
The survey and report can be very effective
tools to use to uncover security weaknesses.

33. Recommendation Report
The report typically includes suggestions
which we have already discussed with
CPTED.
Now that the outer perimeter has been
addressed, the second part of the equation
deals with the interior of the building.

34. Security Design
It is ideal that every opening to a building –
doors and windows – should have 3 methods
of protection (2 at the very minimum).
1) Physical – locks (primary)
2) Electronic – contacts (secondary)
3) Electronic – a motion detector or motion
and a glass break detector (secondary)

35. Electronic Security Systems
Their function is to detect intrusion, manage
access control and allow for surveillance.
The system senses, decides and then acts. For
example, someone breaks a window in a
bedroom. The system senses the breakage
with a glass break detector. Then the alarm
“brains” decides to act on the info by
sounding an alarm and calling the station.

36. CCTV Systems
CCTV systems compliment burglar alarm
systems.
Typically they include cameras that can see in
very low light and a DVR that will record the
activity.
You might receive an intrusion alarm on the
back door. By viewing the camera or
recording, you can confirm an intruder is
present.

37. Access Control
In a business environment, a door could have
an access control keypad or card reader which
will allow or deny access. No traditional key
is required.

40. National Crime Statistics
A Burglary occurs every 10 seconds - homes
lacking alarm systems are 3 times more likely
to be infiltrated.
A Robbery occurs every 60 seconds
A Rape occurs every 2 minutes
A Homicide occurs every 25 seconds
FACT: The number of home break-ins
always rise during the summer months

41. Richmond Area Crime Risk Index

42. What Are Your Chances?
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent
crime in Midlothian, Virginia is 1 in 1,461. As a
victim of a property crime – 1 in 207.
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent
crime in Glen Allen, Virginia is 1 in 508. As a
victim of a property crime – 1 in 37.
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent
crime in Richmond, Virginia is 1 in 72. As a victim
of a property crime – 1 in 14.

43. So What Can I Do?
Get Educated – but recognize the fact that no
one is immune to crime
Shift Your Knowledge from “Unaware” to
“Aware” – get a Security Survey completed
on your home or business.
Shift Your Defenses from “Unprotected” to
“Protected” – by having a Security System
installed.

44. Proper Credentials
Make sure that the company you select is
properly licensed by the Department of
Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
Installers and Consultants must also be
officially registered by DCJS
Ask to see their credentials – they are required
by law to carry and present them

45. Contact Information
Troy Ross
Electronic Security
Consultant
Quality CCTV Systems
804-276-7300
extension 18
tcross@qualitycctv.net
Midlothian, Va.