The Crime Triangle: A Blueprint for Prevention
The Crime Triangle is a crime prevention model developed by criminologist Dr. John Eck to explain why and how crimes occur. According to this theory for a crime to take place, three elements must converge at the same time and place:
Crime Triangle
A Motivated Offender
A Suitable Target
A Location lacking adequate security measures (Guardianship).
Removing Opportunity
As a property owner, it is rare to have the ability to change a criminal’s motivation. Therefore, effective security measures focus on two elements you can control: the Target and the Location. To prevent a crime, you must make the environment unappealing to an offender by removing the opportunity for crime to occur.
Prevention Strategies
There are several steps you can take to prevent crime at your location:
Target Hardening: Implementing physical barriers like access gates, high-grade locks, badged entry, and protective window shielding.
Capable Guardianship: Utilizing a human presence, such as security personnel or off-duty law enforcement, to provide active oversight.
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED): Using lighting and landscaping to ensure offenders feel "seen." Security cameras also play a vital role here, increasing the perceived risk of identification and capture.
The Value of a Professional Assessment
If you remove just one side of the triangle, crime cannot occur. A professional security assessment is the most effective way to identify the specific vulnerabilities at your location. By evaluating your site through the lens of target hardening and CPTED principles, you can increase the safety and security for your employees and business assets.
Act now to protect your employees. If you are interested in learning more about securing your property, reach out to Boyd Threat Solutions today for a free consultation.
