Residential robberies have been causing consequential danger to the security and safety of people within communities, specifically in high-crime related regions where the threat of such situations is higher. However, instigating relevant, targeted methods is vital to discourage thieves while protecting the properties of the residence. This study scrutinizes appropriate recommendations that focus on targeted approaches while analyzing their effectiveness based on situational theories of crime.
Enhancing Physical Security Measures
One of the effective targeted hardening methods that minimizes residential burglaries entails improving physical security measures. This specific approach focuses on fitting reinforced window locks and robust doors, including security bars. Applying alarm systems and security cameras can serve as a hinderance by minimizing the danger for burglars entering the property. The specific strategies play a crucial role in making it difficult for trespassers to access residential properties.
Improving Lighting System
Lack of or inadequate lighting systems within a residential region can increase opportunities for housebreakers operating in the darkness. Improving the lighting system on residential properties is imperative to prevent or minimize criminal activities (Hunter et al., 2021). Specifically, fitting motion-activated light systems in susceptible regions such as dark corners can play a fundamental role in reducing robberies by providing increased perceptibility within the surrounding area. This implies that properly lit regions are less likely to attract criminal activity since most criminal members usually operate in darkness, where they are less likely to be identified.
Secure Perimeter Fencing
Securing perimeter fences or walls is a physical barrier constraining access for unauthorized people within a residential property. Establishing private spaces and clear boundaries may be safeguarded by fences, mitigating the vulnerability of homes being robbed by intruders (Tseloni et al., 2017). The presence of fences, including locked ones, hinders the mobility of housebreakers while forcing them to reconsider targeting residential properties that are less difficult to break. Placing fences strategically within individual property, specifically around the passageways and backyard areas, contributes to the increased insecurity within the premises.
Neighborhood Watch Programs
Using neighborhood watch programs encourages residents to participate actively in criminal prevention efforts within society. By enhancing a sense of vigilance and collective responsibility, this program creates a network of people devoted to reporting any suspicious activity in the community when looking out for each other (Tseloni et al., 2017). This specific strategy allows the community members to increase surveillance, which prevents potential burglars from accessing the property as the danger of being apprehended and observed is heightened.
Targeted Removal
The final targeted hardening method involves securing items or removing properties but is more attractive to the criminal, including tools that could be used to gain entry and valuable assets (Hirschfield et al., 2010). This method allows the people within the community or any reserved property to store their valuable assets and commodities in a safe area. Reducing the visibility of potential targets while minimizing access to valuable commodities that may attract burglary allows residential people to reduce the inducement for intruders.
Analyzing Effectiveness through Situational Theories of Crime
The situational theories of criminal offenses focus on environmental aspects, including situational prompts, in facilitating criminal behavior. The routine activity model illustrates that illegal activities may happen when inspired criminals unite to a suitable target that has no capable supervision (Manning et al., 2022). In this introduction, the targeting method may assist in disrupting this specific convergence while creating an unfavorable setting for the criminal operation. On the other hand, improving physical security measures, such as introducing alarm systems, connects with rational choice model. The theory suggests that people consider the benefits of committing an offense before acting (Zhao et al., 2020). Therefore, reducing the professed danger of apprehension and detection, including increasing the effort required to break into a home, will minimize the issue since most crooks may be less likely to access properties where the danger of getting seized is greater than the potential gain.
Embracing neighborhood watch programs while improving lighting systems results in the principle of crime prevention through environmental design, which focuses on the benefit of designing environments less favorable to criminal offenders. In this case, increasing the perceived danger of detection, including fostering natural surveillance, will alter residential neighborhoods’ social and physical dynamics, preventing burglars from accessing the property (Tseloni et al., 2017). Target removal and securing parameter walls or fences relates to defensible space that articulates the benefit of creating clear boundaries that control individual access to any given property. Fortification of the physical barriers within the residential region while preventing the opportunity for criminals to explore them and identify valuable assets will overcome the chances of burglars attempting to enter the premises.
Summary
The target hardening method plays a fundamental role in mitigating residential burglaries, specifically in those areas that experience a high rate of criminal activity. Implementing environmental modifications, including physical security and community-based strategies, hinders burglars from entering the residential property area while improving the security and safety of the people living within the premises. Based on the situational theory of crime discussed, the effectiveness of this method is grounded in its capabilities to disrupt the configuration of inspired criminal members by increasing the perceived risk and cost associated with committing robbery.
References
Hirschfield, A., Newton, A., & Rogerson, M. (2010). Linking Burglary and Target Hardening at the Property Level: New Insights Into Victimization and Burglary Protection. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 21(3), 319–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403409356965
Hunter, J., Ward, B., Tseloni, A., & Pease, K. (2021). Where should police forces target their residential burglary reduction efforts? Using official victimisation data to predict burglary incidences at the neighbourhood level. Crime Science, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40163-021-00144-x
Manning, M., Wong, G. T. W., & Ip, M. (2022). An evaluation of an Australia-based home Burglary prevention program. Security Journal. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-022-00355-0
Tseloni, A., Farrell, G., Thompson, R., Evans, E., & Tilley, N. (2017). Domestic burglary drop and the security hypothesis. Crime Science, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40163-017-0064-2
Zhao, J., Wang, X., Zhang, H., & Zhao, R. (2020). Rational Choice Theory Applied to an Explanation of Juvenile Offender Decision Making in the Chinese Setting. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 65(4), 0306624X2093142. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624×20931429
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