Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)


Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is an approach to problem-solving that considers opportunities for crime and other problems that arise out of a variety of environmental conditions related to a location or business.

CPTED attempts to reduce or eliminate those opportunities by using elements of the environment to:
1) control access.
2) provide opportunities to see and be seen.
3) define ownership and encourage the maintenance of territory.

The four principles of CPTED are:

Natural Surveillance
Generally, criminals do not want to be observed. Placing physical features, activities and people in ways that minimize the ability to see what is going on discourages crime. Landscaping and lighting are two methods used to provide natural surveillance, and three main types of surveillance are natural, organized, and mechanical.

Natural Access Control
In public and semi-public spaces, properly located entrances, exits, fencing, landscaping, and lighting to direct foot and motor traffic in ways that discourage crime. Access control also includes adequate locks, doors and window barriers that keep unauthorized persons out of specific areas.

Territorial Reinforcement
People naturally protect a territory that they feel is their own, and have a certain respect for the territory of others. Clear boundaries between public and private areas achieved by using physical elements such as fences, pavement treatment, art, signs, good maintenance and landscaping are ways to express ownership. Identifying intruders is much easier in such well-defined spaces.

Maintenance and Management
Well maintained landscaping, lighting, and property cleanliness indicate ownership and guardianship; and enhance feelings of safety, reduce illegitimate use, and increase legitimate use of the property.

Roseville Police Department Business Connect program offers free CPTED Evaluations for businesses in our community.

If you would like to request a CPTED evaluation for your business, contact the Business Connect Team at [email protected] or 916-746-1084.


Commercial Crime Prevention Tips

Commercial burglaries and other crimes against businesses result in thousands of dollars of loss annually.

One of the goals of the Roseville Police Department is to work with the business community to support the mission of improving the quality of life in our city and make Roseville one of the best places to live, work and do business.

This flier provides security measures that can be incorporated into the daily procedures of a business. Although there is no way to completely stop crime from happening, taking steps to "harden the target" can make your business less appealing to criminals.

For additional information, including scheduling a Crime Prevention evaluation of your business, please contact the Police Business Connect Team at: 916-746-1084 or [email protected].


Security Checklist


LIGHTING
  • Good interior lighting throughout business
  • Security lights (exterior and interior)
  • Motion-activated lights Battery-backup for power outages
  • Keep interior lit when business is closed.

    LOCKS
  • Double barrel deadbolts
  • Shields that cover bolts
  • Minimum one-inch throw bolts

    DOORS/WINDOWS
  • Security bars on doors/windows
  • Shatter resistant glass
  • Roll down security screens
  • Doors/windows always locked when closed
  • Solid core metal doors
  • Don't obscure windows with ads/other items

    ROOF ACCESS
  • Keep roof access door(s) locked

    ALARMS
  • Install alarm system with active monitoring and motion sensors
  • Managers and cleaning crew should have alarm codes
  • Battery-backup for power outages
CASH REGISTER(S)
  • When closed, keep cash drawer(s) open with no money

    SAFES
  • Heavy burglar-proof floor safe (not a fire safe)
  • Secure safe to floor and wall

    SECURITY CAMERAS
  • Use high resolution digital cameras
  • Camera placement: entrance/exits, front/rear of business, interior of office/safe, register/checkout area, parking lot (for license plates)
  • Understand operation of surveillance system and be able to copy and provide surveillance footage to law enforcement

    MERCHANDISE PLACEMENT
  • High value items locked up or secured
  • Expensive items placed in open, visible area and/or near the cash register, not near door

    PARKING LOT
  • Maintain open field of view from street into your business
  • Keep landscaping trimmed low, trees trimmed high to give clear field of vision

    PRIVATE SECURITY
  • Consider hiring a private patrol to drive by and check building after hours


Additional Safety Tips
  • Keep perimeter of business well-lit
  • Do not label business keys
  • Keep non-customer doors locked
  • Make your business address easily visible from the street
  • Secure sliding glass doors and use supplemental locking hardware
  • Use solid exterior doors
  • Verify windows and sliding glass doors cannot be lifted out of their tracks
  • Lock electrical circuit box
  • Keep alternate access gates locked
  • Have important phone numbers handy