The Simpson Stump - August 2018

Hello again Simpson residents!

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to crime prevention that has seen numerous revisions over the last several decades, and more than a little controversy. At its heart, CPTED is more a list of deterrents to crimes of opportunity than it is an approach for true prevention. It seeks to ‘harden’ a target and increase the risk vs. the reward rather than approach the root causes of crime in a community. As such, it is an approach we can take as a neighborhood to help ourselves, while the larger issues are a constant battle at the city, county, state, and national levels.

Below are some the barest basics of CPTED encouraging some of the easier and more obvious actions we can take to make our homes a less appealing target to those who might be looking to take advantage.

Natural Surveillance - One of the greatest crime prevention assets you can have is an attentive neighbor (better than a security system, a dog, or the best door locks). Someone who you know, and who knows your routine habits, and what might be out of place. The same is true of your block as well, people who you know by sight, who know that a car backed into your driveway isn’t normal, or that know your door isn’t usually left open at this hour. The concept of Natural Surveillance looks to build on this community asset, and make it easier to recognize when something is noticeably unusual. Think of it as “See, and Be Seen” or the general attempt to limit blind spots.

• Similar to the concept above, the eyes of your neighbors tend to be the first line of defense your house has against criminals (I know this from personal experience, when a neighbor verbally challenged someone looking into our front windows and prying at the screens). We live in a very bright and warm climate, there is an inclination to board up, or at least cover with blackout curtains, the windows around our houses. This might be keep some of the heat out, but it greatly limits our ability to see the happenings along our streets. Keeping blinds open during the day gives the sense that there could be someone watching out the window. Using more transparent curtains allows movement in the houses to be seen from the street at night (without seeing details), and activity is another potential witness who might look out a window. The concept here is to keep a clear line of sight to the street from your house.

• Landscape can create significant challenges to the security of your home. Low trees or large shrubs can conceal entryways (doors or windows), taller trees can create a ladder to your roof, and any can create blind spots where someone might loiter in your yard without your knowledge. The best rule to follow here is the 2’/6’ Rule. In short, this means keep any shrubs adjacent to your house trimmed below 2’ so individuals cannot hide behind them. Similarly, keep any trees adjacent to your house trimmed 6’ off the ground to eliminate blind spots, and discourage climbing. Taller shrubs should have the first foot or two trimmed off the ground to likewise allow for some transparency through them.

• Proper lighting is another measure that is common in CPTED documents. There are several definitions of ‘proper’ here. The first is to provide constant lighting at your primary points of entry (front door and garage door). These lights should illuminate anyone at or approaching these entries so that someone inside the house can see who is approaching, and anyone from the street can see the activity. Additional constant lighting on your house or in your yard can also illuminate your landscaping, but also illuminate anyone walking around the side of your house or through your yard (as well as lighting the ground if you have to walk there at night as well). Lastly, proper lighting should be placed to that it eliminates glare or blinding. It’s a hazard to pedestrians and traffic, but also impacts their ability to accurately see what is happening. Lighting should be focused on a particular area, or diffuse enough not to shine directly into your or your neighbors’ eyes (or windows). Motion activated lighting is something else entirely, and one will be addressed farther down.

• While providing proper lighting around entries and walkways was covered above, other lighting strategies can reinforce territorial boundaries. Each door and gate around your house should be covered by a light. At rear and side entries, a motion light provides this illumination but also servers to draw attention to the area when it lights up (either your attention, or a neighbors). I personally prefer the floodlights that are always on after dark, but at a lower light level, and activate an additional bulb / additional light when motion is sensed. This is also a great item to have covering the alleys behind our houses if you have a garage or shed that can provide power to an overhead location. Similar to the above, be sure to adjust the angle or shields on your lights so you don’t blind your neighbors with them. You want them to look and see what made the light turn on, and not blind them when they do.

Natural Access Control - Natural Access Control is closer to a popular definition of ‘security’. This component looks to the physical attributes of a building, and tends to run very similar to the suggestions for hardening your property that you may hear from local law enforcement. At its core, Natural Access Control looks to define the line between “Your Space” vs. “Public Space”, and then reinforce that line.

• The first concept of Natural Access Control is defining where the primary entry or entries are to your house. Ideally, this should only be a front door, and not an access path through your garage or a side door. Provide a clear, well lit and maintained path to a well lit / visible front door. Don’t provide additional sidewalk or walkways to other areas of your yard, and light them with an eye towards security rather than encouraging visitors to take that path. Similar to the category below, the idea here is to provide a very clear and well defined path to and into your house, and that anyone outside of that area looks suspicious or out of place.

• Landscaping can provide a great asset in providing protection to your house. We live in a city and climate where this is even more true than most. In addition to maintaining the landscape per the Natural Access Control above, you can also select landscaping to help protect. Plant any number of sharp or thorned cacti below your windows to discourage anyone peeking in. Plant Ocotillo along your fence or near windows to discourage people from passing by or loitering. Plant Mesquite, Palo Verde, or Acacia trees near walls or your house to discourage climbing. There is obviously a trade-off here in that you have to maintain the same imposing plants with a trade of being a likely save on water usage. The other landscaping aspect is gravel/decomposed granite vs. grass. Gravel has the unusual characteristic of being nearly impossible to sneak across quietly vs. bare earth or grass. This gives you a warning that someone is walking in your yard without even having to see them. The caveat to this is that you should ensure that your gravel is small enough that it can’t be used to break a window, intentionally or accidentally (¼” to ¾” gravel is most common).

• The most obvious aspect to Natural Access Control is the physical security your house has, of which I’ll cover a few of the most common here. Ensure that all your exterior doors have a deadbolt lock with at least 1” of throw. If you have any glazing within 3’ of your deadbolt lock, it should have a security film on it to prevent the ability to break the window and turn the deadbolt. All exterior swing doors should have at least one screw in each hinge that extends into the wood / block framing (3” length). All sliding doors should have a security rod, or at least a wooden dowel in the track to prevent opening. Similarly, all sliding windows should have a dowel in the track, or removable locks on the window frame to limit opening to only a few inches or if you never open the window, placed for no movement at all. The idea here is to prevent a quick entry, or at least forces whoever enters to do so in obvious attention drawing ways. Exterior window bars, storm shutters, and security doors are an option here, but you must be certain they don’t limit your ability to exit the house in an emergency, or block your ability to see who is outside of your doors.

Natural Territorial Reinforcement - Natural Territorial Reinforcement is the most vague and abstract aspect of CPTED. It seeks to define a sense of ownership, and how properties can look owned vs. neglected. Properties that show a sense of pride and ownership create a more clear boundary between public and private, and illustrate a clearer boundary where an individual might be challenged by property owners or neighbors.

• A sense of ownership can go a long way into influencing opinions about your home, both to your neighbors, visitors, the public, and general thieves. A well maintained (note, not really fancy or expensive, but rather cared for) look to your home can send several messages. You care about your house and your property. You spend time in your yard and around your house maintaining your property. That something out of place or amiss is going to be noticed by yourself, or a neighbor. It’s possible to extend that sense of ownership farther out than your front door, and closer to the street. The most basic example is to provide for a short wall in your yard and a gate to access the walkway to your house. A front yard patio can extend that sense of ownership, or even having a flagpole in your front yard shows both ownership, and a sense of where the owner expects the public and private division to occur.

• Lastly, you can exhibit territorial boundaries with your presence. Similar to the items were previously discussed, maintained properties show activity is common there, patio furniture (maintained and used) show that activity is common as well. Burglars also tend to scope properties out beforehand, so actually being present in your yard working on a garden, talking with neighbors, or other activities show that you are present, and take pride in your house. Look at people driving or walking past, make eye contact, and wave. No need to be menacing, but simply acknowledging someone can make a world of difference (usually for the better). Similarly, the presence of security cameras can provide an opportunity to be present, even when you aren’t, and have a great memory if someone does break in. How you want to utilize cameras to protect your property (interior vs. exterior, at doors vs. wide indoor coverage) is up to your and what you can afford, but placed effectively they can help prevent a burglary, or if one occurs, make it more likely the burglar will be caught. Security systems can also provide a sense of territory, but make sure you do your research. To be effective, they need to be monitored, and resistant to simply being disconnected or smashed. There are plenty of options out there. Even a security system sign in your yard can deter some burglars, but given the prevalence of smartphones make sure your sign is for an actual, respectable company. If you don’t have a service, but your neighbor does, ask if their company sells extra signs or stickers.

If you’re interesting in learning more please feel free to contact us. We can share with you the Chandler Police Department booklet with information and checklists as well as half a dozen other documents from around the country we used as resources.

I’ll add as a closing through what I’ve been taught throughout my life. Don’t make yourself an easy victim, and your chances of becoming one go down. Not away, just down. Most criminals are lazy and risk averse, if you make it too difficult for them, increase the risk of their getting caught, or eliminate any reward, then you’re ahead of the game when it comes to security. Start with the simple things, like locking your doors and windows. Lock your car doors and keep the windows rolled up. Don’t leave anything in your car (valuable or not), in particular don’t leave your wallet / purse, sunglasses, phone, backpack, loose change, or even your garage door opener. When it’s dark, anything might look like a score to someone desperate. Secure your bikes (both pedal and powered) to something sturdy and keep a motion light on them. Don’t leave loose valuables around your yard, front or back that make for something easy to walk away with. And as I started with, the best security device is your neighbors. You don’t have to become lifelong friends, but be friendly and familiar; let them know if something looks off, and ask if you can help someone walking around their yard as if they were walking in yours.

Thanks for your time!

Steven and Randi (Simpson Co-Chairs)