Crime Prevention AT Large Residential
Properties
Most of the people
entering a single house are either its residents or individuals who are closely
associated with the residents. Thus security for a house is relatively
straightforward. Security issues increase significantly at larger properties
where the people entering the building have a wide variety of associations with
each other and the building, such as contractors and visitors as well as
residents. Intruders often take advantage of this relative anonymity among
people coming and going. This document emphasizes protection of properties
larger than a house against intrusion.
Burglary
is defined as entry of a building with the intent to commit a theft or felony.
Most burglars and prowlers practice opportunism. They commonly enter a building
or property through an unlocked gate, door or
garage door. They often follow a resident or visitor who is either well intended,
or unaware about such matters. Some
unauthorized entrances are made with a resident or visitor intentionally
abetting the illegal activity. Once inside, they commonly explore any
accessible space, which is usually at least the common area, and especially the
garage. They frequently break into cars and remove the audio equipment or
personal property. Other intruders may look for a place to hide and wait, to
commit a robbery or assault.
Managers of large complexes
face the challenge of securing a greater amount of common area, sometimes
complicated by the need to accommodate routine traffic flow, as well as
emergency egress. These challenges are most significant in buildings with an
extensive or circuitous network of common corridors, rooms, and doors. Keeping
these areas safe requires more awareness and communication between management
and occupants.
Everyone who frequents a given property has a stake in preventing crime there. The combined population of all tenants, staff, and in some case visitors, can offer more awareness and communication than can the property’s management or security staff alone. Security of property usually involves physical measures (target hardening) as well as active awareness and communication among all concerned. Management is encouraged to consider all stakeholders in the development of the prevention plan, as well as in its implementation. Another advantage of inclusiveness is that the more diverse group of participants will generally develop some “softer” ideas of prevention, which complement the “harder”, more traditional approaches of security.
A.
Awareness,
Communication, and Safe Habits
1.
Active Awareness
Awareness
helps us to notice danger and suspicious activity so we have a chance to do
something about it. Residents and management staff should be alert to any
suspicious activity and report it to the manager, and police as appropriate.
Also notice and report any signs or tampering with locks or other security
equipment. Property Management personnel, should keep records of any
problematic experiences, observations and reports, and what corrective action
was taken. Include date, time, descriptions, and important details. Residents
can keep their own records.
Visibility Enhances Awareness
Vision provides input to our awareness.
Good visibility in public spaces enables people to better see a trouble
situation and possible ways to avoid it. Visibility also permits police
officers to observe property, people and their activity more effectively.
2.
Active
Communication
Communication among all concerned spreads awareness and increases our opportunities for appropriate and effective response to problems. That is communication, in the widest possible sense.
Management
How can
management and all concerned present a positive message of what behavior
is encouraged and accepted? Useful communication can be in essentially all
forms. The property management company’s style and attitude help set the tone.
Assertive customer service can encourage positive behavior, and progressive
leadership can encourage community building. Managers can use rules, signs and
proper upkeep of property to communicate an
appropriate message to residents/staff, visitors and passersby about what kinds
of conduct are expected at the property.
Staff
should document maintenance, security, and higher level (confidential) concerns
in separate logbooks. All logs should include date, time, with appropriate
details in the most proper terminology as possible. Obviously there will be some
overlap of documentation between the three logs. When possible refer to the
other document(s) in your log for completeness.
Maintenance Issues
All staff
should be alert to signs of malfunction or tampering of locks or other security
equipment. Document the initial report of the problem as well all repairs.
Security Issues
All staff should be alert to any
crimes and suspicious activity and report it to the manager, and police as
appropriate. Document each such instance (including minor ones with no known
suspect), regardless who reported it. Record the corrective action taken and
any follow-up done. Security personnel should also document their observations
of malfunctioning or tampering on with locks or other security equipment, and
their reporting it management.
Tenants
Tenants are
encouraged to assist management with awareness of maintenance and security
issues as described above. Tenants can also document their observations, and
submit reports to management.
Tenants may
which to provide input to a Code of Conduct supplement to the House Rules.
Neighborhood Watch,
(also Building Watch, Community Watch) is a very useful forum for all concerned
to learn and practice active awareness, active communication, and safe habits
as described above.
B.
Physical Measures
You can
deter a burglar by causing his entry to be more conspicuous:
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Take more time
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Make more noise
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Be more visible
Physical security measures can supplement your message as well as providing a barrier to intrusion.
1.
Locks
If you have not had a security assessment of your property, contact San Francisco SAFE to schedule one.
2.
General
Appearance
Proper
maintenance and cleaning of even obscure portions of a property help to
demonstrate control of that property and command respect for it and its
occupants.
3.
Maintenance
Progressive maintenance demonstrates management’s attention to the property. This duty includes ongoing awareness of the condition of the doors, windows, and locking hardware. Management should require maintenance personnel to check the condition and function of latches and locks on all common doors and windows. Any signs of tampering or malfunctioning should be readily noticed, reported, and corrected.
4.
Visibility
Enhancement
High
visibility should be maintained on the property, particularly on all walkways,
driveways, doors and accessible windows. In addition, any area that is
accessible should also be visible from the surrounding area. Some low cost
measures can reduce the amount of lighting required. See the section on
lighting.
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Minimize obstructions to visibility.
Keep
vegetation well trimmed to avoid creating hiding spots near walkways,
driveways, doors and accessible windows.
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Groom surfaces to enhance their visibility
Paint the walls of the garage and secondary passages
white to increase reflection and provide a better background for noticing
suspicious behavior and an offender’s physical characteristics.
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Provide adequate lighting on the property.
Ensure that points
of access are well illuminated. However, avoid excessive lighting in certain
areas, thereby creating relative dark spots nearby. See the separate section
on Lighting.