Crime Prevention

Primary duty for a security officer is crime prevention. So, what exactly is meant by "crime prevention"? 

Crime prevention is reducing the opportunities for crimes to be committed. 

The theory of crime prevention is often expressed by the crime prevention triangle.  

Ability  - diminishing the ability for the criminal to complete a crime. While on patrol you look for ways to reduce the ability for a criminal to complete a crime. Verifying that individuals in a facility are authorized to be there is one way to reduce their ability to commit a crime. 

Opportunity  - reducing the opportunities is another element of crime prevention. Securing doors, making sure unattended valuables are secured are ways to reduce the opportunity. 

Desire - taking away the desire of a criminal to act. Most criminals wanting to commit acts of theft, such as shoplifting, are relying on their ability to not get caught. Maintaining high visibility patrols is a way of reducing the desire, by increasing the potential they will be observed in the act. 

As a security officer, if you can reduce one or more of these, you are able to reduce the chances that a crime will be committed. When starting your patrols, think of the triangle and how you can protect those around you and the property. 

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